Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Government education parastatals play a crucial role in the provision of educational services to the public. However, their financial management practices have often been criticized for lacking transparency and accountability. This research project focuses on investigating the effect of applying accounting concepts on the financial management of government education parastatals. The study aims to analyze the impact of accounting concepts such as accrual accounting, consistency, and prudence on the financial reporting and decision-making processes within these organizations. The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of financial data with qualitative interviews and surveys of key stakeholders within government education parastatals. By examining the current financial management practices and the extent to which accounting concepts are applied, the study seeks to identify areas for improvement and potential challenges in implementing accounting standards effectively. Through a comprehensive review of literature on accounting concepts and their application in the public sector, the research will provide a theoretical framework for understanding the role of accounting in enhancing financial transparency and accountability in government education parastatals. The findings of the study are expected to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on public sector accounting and offer practical recommendations for improving financial management practices in government education institutions. The significance of this research lies in its potential to inform policy decisions and managerial practices within government education parastatals. By highlighting the importance of applying accounting concepts in financial management, the study aims to promote greater accountability and efficiency in the use of public funds for educational purposes. The research findings are expected to be relevant not only to government education parastatals but also to other public sector organizations seeking to enhance their financial management practices. Overall, this research project seeks to shed light on the impact of accounting concept application on the financial management of government education parastatals. By examining the role of accounting principles in promoting transparency and accountability, the study aims to provide valuable insights for improving financial reporting practices and decision-making processes within these organizations.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.0   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 

In his budget of December 23, 2011 presented the year 2012 budget, there the governor of Enugu state governor Sullivan chime said that the thrust of the 2012 budget is poverty reduction of the people. The state government appreciated the dangers of delaying of delaying the narrowing of gay between the tow socio-economic order ,the rich and the poor so as to provide  equal footing for both . For proper integration of social and economic environment in the state ,it has become imperative to reduce unemployment and poverty in the state to the barest minimum . For us in Enugu state it meant drastic reduction in personnel cost ,recovery of government funds and properly filtered away during the civilian administration, increase in internal revenue generation ,judicious spending and accountability. Though ,a budget can be prepare simply on the basis of what was done on the previous year ,adjusted for any change in condition or scope of the activity that may be anticipate for the coming year, a soundly conceived budgetary plan should be such that will simulate the executive to take a more critical view of his own operation .

The fundamental difference between the public sector and private sector is that the later is organics and operated to make a profit for its owner while the former exists to provide services to its citizens substantially on a non-profit basis . The Enugu state Annual Budget like any other state in the federation consists of two segments: the recurrent expenditure and the capital expenditure .However the drastic collapse in oil revenue over the year is one factor that has seriously affected state budgets . Also the recent federal government ban on the state from securing loan from external or internal sources and the heavy dependence on imports for essential raw material spare parts and capital goods has continued to affect the state budgeting . Others include unacceptable high rate of inflation and unemployment ,low productively ,and an adverse debt repayment position .it is this state of affairs that made Enugu state government to adopt the following strategies to achieve the derived goals .

A} Maximization of internal revenue by improving the revenue collection machinery and policies .

B} judicious management of expenditure so as to conserve scare fund .

C} concentration of attention on the execution and completion of some selected project in the various sector ; thereby avoiding the used mistakes of preaching scarce resources thing over tow many project and achieving little or nothing.

1.1  OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY  

The study aims at collecting quantities information on budgeting control measures.   Data generation from such information are essential for :

(A) providing a base and framework for improving the quantity and quality of current budgetary control statistics

(B) planning problem ,formulating and appraising the budgeting techniques of the public sector .

(C) The measurement and assessment of the contribution of the role of budget in the economy of the state .

(D) Budget implementation committee .

1.2    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is:

(A)  To   take an overview of the a analysis of the relationship between approved estimates and actual expenditure in the last five financial year ,and whether there is a wide or narrow gab between financial provision in the budget and what was achieved and to draw conclusion from such analysis .

(B)  To determine the factors which account for the difference between the capital expenditure and the recurrent .

(C) To determine the effect of budgeting on the economic development of the state.

1.3  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The   study will contribute toward improving the budgetary   planning control techniques in Enugu state. Thy study   will also help the state government a technique for effective financial contor and control over revenue collection .The study will enable the government and the ministries broaden their understanding of the role of budgeting as a planning and control device in the public sector .This could be done by allowing the respective ministries, Parastatals corporation etc .have second look at their budgeting techniques.

1.4   STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS  

For the purpose of this research work the following assumption were made in order to employ a scientific approach to the recitations of the following hypothesis were analyzed.

1 HO:   There is no effective budgeting in public sector economic .
HI:   There is effective budgeting in public sector economy.

2  HO internal revenue generation is not effective in the public sector economy. HI   internal revenue generation is effective sector economy.

1.5   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY  

The finding of the study and generalization are limited to Enugu state of Nigerian . Due to time and financial contract it will be wrong to claim that the findings are exhaustive and conclusive as far as this subject is concerned .Another limitation is that the researcher relied entirely on data from Enugu state official gazette ,previous budget proposal and speeches of pass head of government of Enugu state ,journals and past student publication and this is therefore the only means of acerbating validity and reliability . However, these sources can only provide quantization information about budgeting but could not be a good guideline to behavioral implication of budgeting. Also during the data collection provides the respondents were not variable in their offices and several visit had to be made before the interview and questionnaires could be administered .The interview had the tendency not to talk about their areas of difficulties and showed little interest in the other ,thus to there night have been some falsification of information.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY          

The scope of the study is that in public sector economy in Nigerian  consist :-
(A) The government Parastatals partly or completely financed by the government Parastatals operate in some private sector fashion , government presence coming only in the from of control ,directive and subvention .E.G mass transit services of state an local government rural electrification bounds , state housing corporation . (B)  The federal government visit its ministries department and agencies like: INEC, NDE ,NBTE ,NUE, ETE . (C)  The state government represented by its ministries and departments. (D) The local government.

1.7  DEFINITION OF TERMS  

In   this study certain term are to be used and whenever it found are to be given the following meaning: –

(A) THE   FEDERATION ACCOUNT: It is the distributable pool account into which all revenue collected by the federal government departments or an authority by the states on behalf of federal government.
(c) EXCLUSIVE REVENUE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Federally collectable revenue is made up of two disproportionate parts. The first and often the smaller parts is the revenue which accrues exclusively to the federal government from its own independent sources such as from income tax of the personnel for the armed force of federation of the Nigeria police force the ministry of external Affairs and residents of the federal capital territory, Abuja. The second and is whatever that is not included in the first part above