CEO Characteristics and Audit Quality of Listed Firms in Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Audit Committee Gender Diversity

This study examined moderating role of audit committee gender diversity on interaction ofCEO characteristics and audit quality of listed firms in Nigeria. The study used a sample of94 out of a population of 156 firms using their secondary data and employed panelregression and logistic panel regression analysis. The result showed that CEO Ownershipinteraction with audit fees is not significant. However, it is positive and significant withaudit firm size. CEO tenure interaction with audit committee gender has negativemoderating effect on audit fees while exhibiting positive effect on audit firm size. The studyconcluded that gender diversity in audit committee will reduce CEO tenure and CEOownership effect on audit quality of listed firms in Nigeria. The study then recommendsamong others that listed firms in Nigeria should be required to have gender-diverse auditcommittees, as this has shown to improve governance ethics and promote higher auditquality. This could be achieved through stringent corporate governance policies and listingrequirements by stock exchanges, particularly the Nigeria Exchange.