ABSTRACT

In recent timessome ofthepublic organizations in Nigeria have beenfacedwith cases offinancial crisis. Those ofthem that survived more in a snail pace. Obviously the causes offinancial crisis in our public sector have been attributed to total negligence ofroles ofaccounting in our public organizations. This research work will looked into role of accounting in the control public expenditure in Nigeria. The researcherformulated thefollowingfourspecific objectives; to assess the level ofimpact o fgovernment expenditure budget on actual expenditures. To ascertain the influence ofeffective accounting system in public institutions on accountability and transparency in the execution ofpublic expenditures. To evaluate the influence ofstandardcosting on the control ofpublic expenditures. To determine the extent to which accounting records has controlledfund misappropriation in government expenditures through public enterprises. Thus, research questions and research hypotheses were structured in accordance with the specific objectives. In a bid to achieve a meaningful research study work, this research willreview related literatures on role ofaccounting in the control ofpublic sector in Nigeria. Which were sub-divided into three subheadings such as conceptual framework, theoretical framework and empirical review. However, in the quest to perfect this research; survey research design was adopted were data was sourcedprimarily through questionnaire instrument. The questionnaire instrument was used to 84 staffofCentral bank ofNigeria, Umuahia branch ofwhich 75 were completelyfilledand returned. Thus, the data gathered were analyzed using simple regression. The analysis however made the following findings; that government budgeted expenditure has a significant impact on actual expenditures. That effective accounting system in public institution has a significant influence on the transparency and accountability in the execution ofpublic expenditures. That application of standard costing in budgeting has a significant influence on public expenditure. That accounting records have a significant influence on fraud misappropriation in government expenditures throughpublic enterprises. Sequel to thefindings and conclusion, the research made thefollowing recommendations that government and other public establishment should adhere to the compliance with financial rules and regulations to enable the control ofactual expenses made with thefiscalyear. That the office ofthe auditor general ofthefederation should be strengthened so as to monitorthefinancial activities ofthe different arms ofgovernmentsequel to theirfinancial spending. That Accountants cum other government agencies should ensure that standard costing in budgeting is used in order ascertain the actual cost before public expenditure. Thatfinancial record keeping should be maintained in every public establishment andfinancial reports should be prepared in clarity and concise so to reflect a comprehensive information with respect to financial activities in order to preventfund misappropriation in government expenditures through public enterprises.