Title: MODERATING EFFECT OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS ON ATTITUDE REQUIREMENT OF ACCOUNTANTS AND FRAUD RISK ASSESSMENT IN NIGERIAN PUBLIC SECTOR
Authors:
Agnes Ibenre Nyor, Samuel Eniola Agbi, Samuel Gambo Joshua, Mohammed Nma Ahmed And Lateef Olumide Mustapha
Abstract:
Fraud in the public sector remains a difficult challenge in Nigeria, where the misappropriation of public funds and financial malpractices undermine trust in government institutions and slow socioeconomic progress. Effective fraud risk assessment (FRA) is essential for curbing these malpractices, as it ensures that the mechanisms designed to detect, prevent, and respond to fraud are robust and responsive. Central to FRA is the performance of professional accountants, whose attitudes, and ethical orientations can influence how fraud risks are identified, assessed, and managed. This study explored the moderating effect of professional ethics on attitude requirements of accountants and fraud risk assessment in the Nigerian public sector. This study was carried out using quantitative approach and cross-sectional research design, a survey method of data collection and a self-selection (convenience) sampling technique. Primary data were collected by means of questionnaire. The population of the study comprised of the 10,196 Nigerian public sector accountants from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, out of which a sample size of 404 was scientifically selected. The dependent variable is Fraud Risk Assessment; the independent variable is Professional Attitude Requirement whereas the moderator is Professional Ethics. Descriptive statistics and Partial Least Square Structural Equation, reflective measurement model was used while Stata version 17.0 was the research technique. The result of the study revealed that Professional Attitude Requirement has significant positive effect on fraud risk assessment. This study recommended that, accountants should undergo training and retraining exercise as a means of growing in the required attitude to be able to effectively discharge their responsibilities of assessing the risk of fraud.
Keywords: Accountants, Attitude Requirement, Fraud Risk Assessment, Professional Ethics.
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