Impact of Corporate Governance Mechanisms on Social and Environmental Disclosure Quality of Listed Non-Service Companies in Nigeria

In the contemporary corporate landscape of Nigeria, social and environmental disclosure quality has emerged as a prominent concern within the realm of corporate disclosure. This study examined the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on the social and environmental disclosure quality of listed non-service companies in Nigeria. Utilising secondary data extracted from the annual reports of 51 non-service companies (out of 74) over a five-year period from 2018 to 2022, sourced from the Nigerian Exchange Group and companies websites, the study employs generalised least square analysis to achieve its objectives. The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between board gender, board size, board meetings, audit firm choice, and social and environmental disclosure quality. In practical terms, the study has profound implications for promoting board gender diversity, regulatory reforms, aligning with stakeholder expectations, enhancing governance practices, improving information management, fostering strategic decision-making, building stakeholders' trust, and fortifying crisis response mechanisms. Theoretical implications involve integrating stakeholder, legitimacy, and agency theories, while methodologically, the research recommends that the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria should consider improving Principle 21, addressing Social and Environmental Disclosure issues, aligning it with international best practices. Ultimately, this study contributes valuable insights for stakeholders committed to advancing corporate governance and fostering improved social and environmental disclosure practices within Nigerian non-service companies.