Government Accounting Practices and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Evidence in Nigeria

Abstract

Globally, government accounting offers essential tools for tracking financial resources, transparency, and ensuring accountability, all of which are critical to the success of the SDGs. The study investigated the impact of government accounting practices on sustainable development goals. The study utilized the ex post facto study design. The study spanned the period between 2013-2023 based on government agencies by nature and level of SDG objectives that influenced infrastructure, health, and education through a Stratified Sampling Technique, the study also used Random Sampling Technique. The study utilized secondary data. Data were source from the World Development Group. Data collected were analyzed using Simple Switching Regression (BFGS / Marquardt steps). Findings revealed that budget compliance has a significant influence on sustainable development goals in Nigeria; while expenditure efficiency has a significant impact on sustainable development goals in Nigeria. The study found that budgetary compliance constrains flexibility factor affecting the achievement of sustainable development goals in Nigeria; while expenditure efficiency results in the minimization of government spending and increases sustainable development goals. The study recommended that policymakers should try examining budgetary compliance frameworks to allow for maximum compliance; also, government efforts should be put towards enhancing mechanisms for expenditure efficiency that allow the effective spending of public funds for higher yield.