Sustainability Reporting and Firm Value of Listed Oil and Gas Firm in Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Board Independence

Abstract

The study examined how board independence affected the relationship between listed oil and gas 
companies in Nigeria's firm value and sustainability reporting from 2013 to 2022. The population 
of the study consisted of the nine (9) listed oil and gas companies on the Nigeria Exchange Group, 
from which a sample of seven (7) oil and gas companies was chosen using the purposive sampling 
technique. The study used secondary data that was taken from the company's annual report and 
account, and it employed a longitudinal panel research design. The results of the cross-sectional 
time-series FGLS regression showed that the value of listed oil and gas is positively and 
significantly impacted by the moderating influence of board independence on economic 
sustainability disclosure and corporate social responsibility disclosure. However, the study found 
no significant moderating effect of board independence on the relationship between environmental 
disclosure and corporate governance disclosure with firm value. The study recommends that the 
management of the oil and gas companies should actively recruit and appoint board members with 
diverse expertise and independence from management to ensure objective oversight and enhance 
the credibility of sustainability reports.