FIRM ATTRIBUTES AND VOLUNTARY ACCOUNTING DISCLOSURE OF LISTED DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS IN NIGERIA

The study examined firm attributes and voluntary accounting disclosure of listed Money Deposit Banks (DMBs) in Nigeria.It investigates whether profitability, liquidity, leverage, firm size and firm age influence voluntary accounting disclosure of listed DMBs in Nigeria. This was necessitated by the conflicting findings documented by studies that have associated firms’ attributes and voluntary accounting disclosure. Correlational research design was adopted using secondary data extracted from a sample of 11 out of 15 listed DMBs over a period of eight years (2008-2015). The data was analyzed using panel multiple regression. To ensure the validity of the data used, fixed and random regressions were carried out and robust ordinary least square (OLS) regression was suggested after conducting lagrangian multiplier test for random effects. The results revealed that profitability, liquidity, and firm size have positively and significantly predicted voluntary accounting disclosure of listed DMBs in Nigeria. While leverage has negative and significant effect on the voluntary accounting disclosure with a firm age negatively but insignificant in explaining voluntary accounting disclosure of listed DMBs in Nigeria. The study concludes that more profitable, liquid, leveraged and big banks voluntarily disclose accounting information more than less profitable, liquid, leveraged and smaller banks irrespective of their ages. Therefore, it is recommended, among others that the management of listed DMBs in Nigeria should work hard toward attaining high profits, liquidity and leverage as well as increasing fixed assets to boost voluntary accounting disclosure in their annual reports as this enhances the confidence of prospective and existing investors.