CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
In most developing countries including Nigerian government participation in economic activity is usually significant. One of the ways through which government has intervened in Nigerian economy is through the establishment of public enterprises and statutory bodies operating service of an economic or social character on behalf of the government (Kanu, 2012). Since the colonial era, especially after independence 1960, Nigerian public enterprises have witnessed a steady growth unit recently. Beginning as a trickle in the period between this era of the second world war and Nigeria risen to flood level since independence the establishment of public enterprise in Nigeria are many add to available rational capital for the support of development and welfare programme, making to be controlled by a few individual, it possible for important profitable enterprise to be controlled by a few individual or group organization certain critical activities national survival and economic stability and providing employment opportunities (Ademolukun, 1983).
However, after a long period of growing starts intervention in the Nigeria economy through public enterprises, the 1980’s on wards had witnessed a reversed which has sometimes been dramatic in public opinion therefore public policy. This has been brought by the persistent losses which state enterprises that trivet been running over fears. Consequently, there has been a willingness to look at alternative policy strategies for the achievement of economic development. At the forefront of these strategies is the minimization privatization of public enterprises. In Nigeria, public enterprises are engaged in a while spectrum of economic activities including agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, commerce and services. The classification of public enterprises in Nigeria has been made according to varieties of criteria by different authorities. The public service review commission (2009) classified public sector into public utilities, regulatory of service body, financial institutions and commercial and industrial enterprises Being a mixed economy, individuals also own and operate private enterprises. A firm classified as private enterprises when it is founded and managed by an individual and or a group of individual.
These firms are expected to be registered in the local government within which they operate. The rational for the establishment of private enterprises are numerous just like establishment of public enterprises (Osumbor, 2001). The author continued that they include amongst others; provision of employment opportunities generating income for the owner of the enterprises, government interest in profit growth of the enterprises which performance of the public sector through competition. Osumbor (2001) further mentioned that moreover, the general public is concerned with contribution which makes towards social enlistment which is exhibit to the environment in which the business is loaded and its willingness to contribute to the development of the environment. The activities of the public enterprises have been on the increase in recent times which necessitated the introduction of the accounting practice to check and monitor the financial activities of these enterprises. Bimage (2005) posited that accounting is defined as a process by which data relating to the economic activities of an organization are measured recorded and communicated to interested parties for analysis and interpretation. Bimage (2005) continued that the earliest methods of accounting records were kept in physical quantities. These records came from the Eastern (early) civilization which involved in the countries around the Mediterranean Sea such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Crete, Italy etc. Money was recorded as soon as money took the place of barter as a medium of exchange and unit of accounting practice has been closely related to the economic development of the country.
If the business organizations grows in size and complexity management and outsiders groups which include owners of the firm (stock holder) creditor, government, employer and the general public (Kanu, 2012). The differentiation necessitated the need to have accounting department in the enterprises to give accurate financial of the management and to satisfy the outside demands or the general public who are already interest on whether the enterprises in growing or not. The role of accounting in public enterprises in Nigeria is primarily to ensure accurate accountability in these sectors and present the time and fair financial position of the enterprises (Kanu, 2012). The role is of utmost importance in any organization. An organization can only grow or profit when the resources can only be well managed if accounting department of the organization give accurate financial information to know how much the enterprises having. It only when this is done that the firm allocate its resources and knows what is to be done. The role of accounting seems to be more pounced in the public enterprises. In recent times, there are cases of misappropriation of funds in the public enterprises and improper accountability (Ostisumi, 2014). These factors as indicated by Ostisumi (2014) have led to a lot of public enterprises go into oblivion, if the government has reorganization the role of accounting, all these feeble should not have risen. No enterprises can more forward without having a well-organized financial department to give accurate financial, information about the firm. This is because if improper accounting records are not minimized or where possible eradicated these is bound to be cases of public enterprises failure. Consequently, staff of such enterprises will force out of their job. This will result to economic and social activities in the society (Kanu, 2012).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Obviously, every privates and public entries in Nigeria has their accounting department and there are increase cases of financial mismanagement in virtually all the public and private organization in Nigeria. However, in the case of Nigeria, there are more cases of accounting mismanagement in public enterprise than most other countries in the world. The management of public enterprise in Nigeria has been very poor. A quick survey into public enterprises will show that with ease. The problem of this study lies on how the managers of these enterprises are able to recognizes the role of accounting in their enterprises so that these cases of improper accountability will be minimized or if possible its total eradication in our society.
