AUDIT COMMITTEE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING TIMELINESS OF LISTED NON-FINANCIAL FIRMS IN NIGERIA

This study examined the effect of audit committee governance on the timeliness of financial reporting in selected listed non-financial firms in Nigeria, with attention to auditor tenure as an explanatory variable. Using a sample of 80 firms from a population of 102 over 2015-2024 (800 firm-year observations), the study measured audit report lag as the dependent variable and assessed audit committee independence, financial expertise, gender diversity, size, and meeting frequency as explanatory variables. Secondary data from annual reports were analysed using descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk normality tests, Spearman correlation, Levin-Lin-Chu panel unit root tests, and Panel Corrected Standard Errors regression, with all five committee attributes and auditor tenure entered jointly in a single model. Findings revealed that gender diversity and meeting frequency significantly reduced audit report lag, while independence, financial expertise, committee size, and auditor tenure showed no significant direct effect once all attributes were considered jointly, and the model's explanatory power was modest (R-squared = 1.77%). The study confirmed the applicability of agency and resource dependence theories, showing that gender diverse, actively engaged committees are the strongest observed drivers of reporting efficiency in this sample. It is recommended that firms prioritise gender diversity and a disciplined meeting calendar as practical levers for reporting timeliness, while continuing to strengthen independence and expertise on the wider governance rationale, even though this sample did not detect a significant effect for either. These insights offer practical guidance for regulators, managers, and investors in enhancing audit quality and market confidence.