OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURE PRACTICES: EVIDENCE FROM LISTED NIGERIAN INDUSTRIAL GOODS FIRMS

Nigerian industrial firms are under increasing pressure to adopt robust environmental reporting practices. However, the extent and quality of these disclosures are often hinged on the nature of ownership structure. This study examined the effect of ownership structure on environmental disclosure practices of quoted Nigerian industrial good firms. The study research design used was causal. 13 firms make up the study population out of which 10 firms were purposively chosen as sample size within a time frame of 2011 to 2022. The annual reports of the chosen firms provided the data used in this investigation. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Managerial ownership (MNO), foreign ownership (FRO) and institutional ownership structure (INO) were used to proxy ownership structure. The analysis's outcome showed that MNO and FRO have a positive and significant effect on environmental disclosures practices (END) evidenced with coefficient values of (0.0415) and (0.3155) correspondingly. INO was found to have a significant and negative connection with END, as indicated by coefficient value of -0.0034. The study concludes that ownership structure has a noteworthy impact on environmental disclosure practices. The study recommends that firms should encourage managers to be more transparent about END by linking their managerial rewards to END performance. The firm should also leverage FRO by engaging foreign stakeholders in setting up and meeting rigorous environmental reporting benchmarks. Nigerian firms should establish environmental committees which will include representatives from major institutional investors, to enhance accountability and ensure consistent, transparent disclosures practices.