Internal control, fraud prevention, and financial accountability in tertiary institutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/jocaf-2026.v1i2.27.102-112Keywords:
Internal control, fraud prevention, financial accountability, COSO framework, public tertiary institutions, NigeriaAbstract
This study examined the relationship between internal control, fraud prevention, and financial accountability in selected public tertiary institutions in Jigawa State, Nigeria. It assessed the associations of five COSO internal-control dimensions control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring activities with fraud prevention and financial accountability. The study adopted a cross-sectional comparative survey design across Bilyaminu Usman Polytechnic, Hadejia; Jigawa State College of Education, Gumel; and Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse. The study collected data from 300 academic and non-academic staff involved in financial management, accounting, internal audit, administration, procurement, stores, and related control functions using a structured five-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson product-moment correlation, and supplementary multiple regression. Pearson results showed positive and statistically significant associations between all five internal-control dimensions and both outcomes. Monitoring activities showed the strongest association with fraud prevention and financial accountability, while risk assessment showed the weakest. The study concludes that stronger internal-control practices are associated with stronger fraud prevention and greater financial accountability. It recommends strengthening monitoring and audit follow-up, systematic risk assessment, control activities, ethical leadership, information and communication, staff training, and institution-wide control responsibility. Because the study is cross-sectional, the findings are interpreted as associations rather than causal effects.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nura Isah, Muhammad Tijjani Ahmad, Rabiu Ismail, Rabiu Iliya (Author)
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