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    European Scientific Journal May 2014 edition vol.10, No.13 ISSN: 1857 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431

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    INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM: A MANAGERIAL

    TOOL FOR PROPER ACCOUNTABILITY

    A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA CUSTOMS

    SERVICE

    Odunayo Henry AdewaleDepartment of Economics, School of Arts and Social Sciences

    Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, P.M.B. 007 Ijanikin, Lagos,

    Nigeria

    AbstractThis study is examines the part played by internal control system in

    the management of Nigeria Customs Service. It recognizes two main groups

    of players in the Nigeria Customs Service namely, administration and

    enforcement from which 100 officers responded to a validated questionnaire

    titled Nigeria Customs Service Participation Questionnaire (NCSPQ)

    which was validated and the reliability coefficient was found to be 0 . 71.

    Three research questions and three hypotheses were raised and tested in the

    study. Analysis of data reveals that significant difference existed betweeninternal control system and proper accountability. Also, effective utilization

    of Information Technology plays important role in the collection of custom

    duties. The study also ascertains that effective internal control system

    ensures high revenue generation. However a positive correlation was found

    to exist between internal check and high level of accountability. These

    findings provide vivid evidence for recommendations such as adequate

    motivation of officers to avoid financial fraud; information technology

    gadgets should be provided for all commands and competent team, of experts

    to work out the logic of standard internal control should be put in place.

    Keywords: Internal control system, external accountability routine checks,

    government paraststals, efficiency

    IntroductionSeveral studies have been carried out in Nigeria to find out why many

    government parastatals or industries which started of well later fall or remain

    stagnant in their operations. The major causes of this situation were traced

    down to low accountability which emanated from a lot of factors, part of

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    which are poor accountability and inadequate provision of fund in an

    organization. Accountability has always been an important feature of life. In

    fact, it is said to be life blood of any organisation. Without accountability it is

    impossible to run any activities of any organisation. By interacting with other

    people, one is able to develop ones personality. Anderson (2009) stated that

    one of the most elusive concepts in management is accountability. In

    leadership roles, accountability is the acknowledgment and assumption of

    responsibility for actions within the scope of a role or position, encompassing

    the obligation to report and be answerable for resulting consequences.

    Accountability is the key to achieving results and helping identify the

    opportunities in the organisation. Holding employees accountable helps them

    to know the satisfaction of achieving a goal and performing to a standard.

    Accountability is the obligation to render an account for a responsibility

    conferred. It presumes the existence of at least two parties: one who allocatesresponsibilities and one who accepts it with the undertaking to report upon

    the manner in which it has been discharged. Accountability is the liability

    assumed by all there who exercise authority to account for the manner in

    which they have fulfilled responsibilities entrusted to them.

    Michael (2009) defined accountability as the duty to provide on

    account (by no means necessarily financial) or reckoning those action for

    which one is held responsible as a consequence accountability involves a

    promise to perform and a normal or legal responsibility to provide an account

    for it. According to Cornwall (2000) stated that accountability has both anexternal dimensions and an internal. Internal accountability refers to

    rendering of account to higher echelons of the organisation by lower levels in

    the light of delegated authority and planned targets. The external

    accountability refers to the accountability of department or agency to some

    external body like legislature. It could mean managerial accountability,

    referring delivery of services by government agencies or departments to

    public for fee or otherwise or for the utilization of public resources to deliver

    the services.

    Accountability is synonym for responsibility. It is a type of

    relationship that comes to existence when and obligation is taken on by an

    individual (or corporate entity) such as the responsibility to assume a role or

    discharge a task. Accountability is a relationship based the obligation to

    demonstrate and take responsibility for performance in the light of agreed

    expectations.

    In brief, accountability requires a relationship of conferring

    responsibility and reporting back on the expected and agreed performance

    and on the manner is which the responsibility was fulfilled. The rendering of

    account, whether obligatory or on a voluntary basis, establish the

    relationship of accountability for results.

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    Horngren (1982:8) therefore defined internal control as referring to

    both Administration control and accounting control. Administration control

    organisation showing who reports to who) and all the methods, planning and

    control of operations.

    Accounting control comprises the methods and procedures that are

    mainly concerned with authorization of sections, the safeguarding of assets

    and the accuracy of the financial records. Good accounting control helps

    maximize profit; they help minimize waste, unintentional errors and frauds.

    This well designed control measure is a step towards the achievement of an

    organizational accountability which in other words means success of

    organisation. The use of internal control system as a managerial tool for

    proper accountability has been recently on great increase. Since the inception

    of Nigeria customs service in Nigeria and its environs there has been rapid

    achievement in meeting their target.The rapid achievement in Nigeria customs service is facilitated

    immensely by the proper accountability and internal control system adapted

    by the organisation.

    Marshell (1984:52) stated that the success of any organisation is

    dependent on its management, which reflects their ability to control cost to

    minimum level and hence make profit. Without accountability level and

    hence make profit. Without accountability no organisation could exist for

    long, since it might not coordinate its various activities. Internal control is

    very essential in an organisation, as coordination of individuals, worksprocessed or department enables those being coordinated to know what they

    are to do and when it is to be done. Internal control in an organization can be

    made accountable with the application of computer to enhance information

    processing in an orgainsation. This research work will prefer a critical look

    into the internal control system, a managerial tool for proper accountability.

    Nigeria customs service is a product of history. Indeed its growth

    evolved through gradual metamorphosis right from 1891 to date. What the

    Nigeria customs today is largely an extension of what the Royal Niger

    company in the mid 19th

    century established and incrementally adopted by the

    luguardian system.Nigeria customs service has its historical root location

    within the realms of the Royal Niger company, it also significant to state that

    the department has witnessed tremendous changes from the pre cursive to its

    present strategic phase.

    Internal Control SystemInternal control has been recognized in the most organization as one

    of the most essential ingredients, necessary for the survival of the business

    enterprise and government agencies. Apart from the problem of scarce

    resources, organizations run a high risk of fraud, errors, miss appropriation of

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    funds and inefficient and ineffective operations. Step are required therefore to

    minimize, if not eliminate completely, these risks, by establishing internal

    control system. For every organization, there are risks that the organizational

    goals and objectives are not achieved. All efforts aimed at preventing such

    risks or identifying and correcting such risks are viewed as internal control.

    Anthony (1998:17) defined internal control as the process by which

    managers assure that resources are obtained and used effectively and

    efficiently in the accomplishment of the organization objectives. Garrison and

    Noreen (2000:378) suggested a different definition for internal control as

    follows: those steps taken by management that attempt to increase the

    likelihood that the objectives set down at the planning stage are attained and

    to ensure that all parts of the organization function in a manner consistent

    with organizational policies. He further defined internal control as those sets

    of organizational activities which include: planning, co-ordination,communication, evaluation and decision making as well as informal

    processes aimed at enhancing the efficient and effective use of the

    organizational resources towards the achievement of the organizational

    objectives. We are treating internal control as a tool used by the management

    to facilitate those activities which corresponds to our area of study.

    Anthony and Govindavajan (2004) identified several aspect or

    activities of management / internal control namely: planning, coordinating,

    communication, evaluation, decision-making and influencing. Planning what

    the organization should do to achieve proper accountability. Planning couldbe view as budget preparation. With planning the organization decides what

    to do and the responsibilities of its different members.

    Koontz and Donnel (1992:34) defined internal control as all the

    measures of a public or private organization that could be said to be strategies

    of owners and managers to monitor and control the activities within the

    organization.

    Arnold and Turley (1996:316) classify organization plans as falling

    under the following headings:

    i Operating Plans: These are short-term plan which relates directly to

    the achievement of the organization objectives. Thus the annual

    accountability and met up government target plans as well as the plans to

    suppress smuggled goods would be examples of operating plans.

    ii Administrative Plans: These are tactical plans concerned with the

    creation of the organizational structured, under which accountability and

    performance levels can be determined for appropriate functions.

    iii Coordinating the activities of several parts of the organization to

    assure alignments goals.

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    iv Communicating information such as strategy and specific

    performance objective. Communication could be done formally (by means of

    budgets and other official documents) and informal through conversations.

    Evaluating actual performance related to the standard and making

    inference as to how well the employees have preformed. Deciding what, if

    any action should be taken. In 1999, in the United States of America, the

    general accounting office for standard defined Internal Control as an integral

    component of an organization, management that provides reasonable

    assurance that the following objectives are being achieved: effectiveness and

    efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting, and compliance

    with applicable laws and regulations. They further state that internal control is

    a major part of managing an organization. It comprises the plans, methods,

    and procedures used to meet missions, goals and objectives and in doing so

    supports performance based management. Internal Control also serves as thefirst line of defense in safeguarding assets and preventing and detecting errors

    and fraud. In short, internal control, which is synonymous with management

    control, helps government program managers achieve desire results through

    effective stewardship of public resources.

    Internal Control provides reasonable assurance that the objectives of

    the organization are being achieved in the following categories: effectiveness

    and efficiency of operations including the use of the entitys resources.

    Reliability of financial statement and other report for internal and external

    use, compliance with applicable laws and regulation. Internal control wasdesigned to provide reasonable assurance regarding preventions of or prompt

    detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of organizations

    assets. Internal Control is not one event, but a series of actions and activities

    that occur throughout an entitys operations and on an ongoing basis. Internal

    control was recognized as integral parts of each system that management uses

    to regulate and guide its operations rather than as a separate system within an

    organization.

    In this sense, internal control is management tools that are built into

    the entity as a part of its infrastructure to help manager run the entity and

    achieve their aims on an ongoing basis. Internal control is affected by people:

    people are what make internal control work. The responsibility for good

    internal control rests with all managers. Management sets the objectives, put

    the control mechanisms and activities in place, and monitor and evaluates the

    control. However, all personnel in the organization play important roles in

    making accountability happen.

    Internal control provides reasonable assurance, not absolute

    assurance; management design and implement internal control based on the

    related cost and benefits. No matter how well designed and operated, internal

    control cannot provide absolute assurance that all organization objectives will

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    be met. Factors outside the control or influence of management can affect the

    entitys ability to achieve all of its goals. For example, human mistakes,

    judgment errors, and acts of collusion to circumvent control can affect

    meeting organizations objectives. Therefore, once in place, internal control

    provides reasonable not absolute assurance of meeting organizational goals.

    Isidore (2006:81) in his definition of internal control stated, the whole

    system of controls, financial and otherwise, established by the management in

    order to carry on the business of the organization in an orderly and efficient

    manner, ensure adherence to management policies, safeguard the assets and

    secure as far as possible the completeness and accuracy of the records. The

    key concepts from the above definition can be summarized as follows:

    a. To ensure that a structural framework exists for the efficient and

    effective channeling scare resources,

    b. To ensure that policies decided on and adopted by management areconsistently followed by those responsible for implementing them;

    c. To ensure that expensive assets on which operations critically depends

    are properly secured and safeguarded to prevent misuse and misappropriation,

    d. To ensure that important document which provides the information on

    which significant strategic and decision are based provide a complete

    accurate and timely record of relevant events.

    Eric (2004) in his paper title Internal Controls and financial

    accountability stated that a primary responsibility of directors is to ensure

    that organization is accountable for its programs and finances to itscontributors, members, and the public and government regulators.

    Accountability requires that the organization comply with all applicable laws

    and ethical standards, adhere to the organizations mission, create and adhere

    to conflict of interest, ethics, personnel and accounting policies, protect the

    rights of members, prepare and file its annual financial report with the

    internal revenue service and appropriate federal regulatory authorities and

    make the report available to all member of the board and any member of the

    public who requests it.

    Internal Control in an Information Technology

    Information technology (IT) controls are an integral component of an

    effective internal control structure. Among others, essential elements include,

    well-defined internal control policies over I.T Security and access; adequate

    documentation of program change and management of I.T systems and

    upgrades. One challenge is the maintenance and monitoring of controls in the

    decentralized. If information technology controls are not effectively

    addressed, the potential for financial loss increases, but even more damaging

    to custom organization can be its loss of reputation.

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    Information technology (IT) protecting sensitive information such as

    officers records, duty paid records, employees social security members, is

    also a significant challenge.

    The basic fact surrounding any internal control system is that it is

    build around human beings in its entirety. However with the advent of

    information technology (IT) the human aspect of recording and keeping track

    of transactions in organization is immensely reduced. With the advent of

    electronic data processing in the 1950s and with the proliferation in its use in

    the recent years, the design of internal control system took a different

    dimension. The recording of transactions is now more or less machine

    intensive. With this new dimension in internal control system design there is

    loss of line of transaction and its supporting document to the ordinary eyes

    since its processing now takes place within the machines.

    There are basically two distinguishing features of I T systemaccording to Ricchiete (1982:263) there are:

    1 I T application control help provides control over the data that is

    entered into the system such as duty paid. They help to ensure that transaction

    processing is accurate and complete

    2 IT general control helps to ensure the proper operation of I.T systems

    overtime. General controls include those over data center operations as well

    as system software acquisition, maintenance and access security.

    The advent of I.T formation technology immensely affected the

    procedures in processing of information in the organization that employs ITsystem. The AICPA in their statement of accounting standard No1 (SAS)

    section 320.33 made the following comment on internal control in an IT

    environment since the definition and related basic concepts of accounting

    control are expressed in terms of objectives, they are independent of the

    method of data processing used.

    Consequently they apply to manual mechanical and electronic data

    processing system used. However the organizations and procedure required

    accomplishing these objectives may be influenced by the method of data

    processing used.

    The AICPA went further to state in section 321.02 (SAS N03) that

    because the method of data processing used influence the organization and

    procedures employed by an entity to accomplish the objective of accounting

    control, it may also influence the procedures employed by an auditor in his

    study and evaluation of accounting controls to determine the nature, timing

    and extent of audit procedures to be applied in his examination of financial

    statements.

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    Statement of the ProblemThe success of Nigeria customs services and the efficiency of the

    management had for long been far below expectation. A study on this subject

    shows that there is high rate of smuggled goods into the country. This high

    rote of smuggled goods is associated with increase of wind up of many

    manufacturing industries in the country.

    The problem hence center on what is the responsible for the failure of

    proper accountability in the organization having the required capabilities to

    survive in the tense competitive environment. The study is therefore designed

    towards finding an answer to the above question and whether internal control

    system is managerial tool for proper accountability.

    Research Questions

    The study sought to address the following research questions:1. Does adequate internal control ensure proper accountability?

    2. Utilization of IT play important role in the collection of duties?

    3. Does effective internal check associate with high level of

    accountability?

    Hypotheses of the StudyWith regard to the problem of the study, the following hypotheses are

    formulated to guide the investigation:

    H.o1: Adequate internal control does not ensures proper accountabilityH.o2: Utilization of IT does not play important role in the collection of

    custom duties.

    H.o3: Effective internal check is not associated with high level of

    accountability

    Objectives of the StudyThe objectives of this study was to find out whether customs in

    Oyo/Osun area command were practicing internal control system in their

    course of duties. The study examined the responsibility allocated to customs,

    the adequacy of such responsibility and the effects of internal control on the

    accountability.

    The objectives of this study were to ascertain whether internal control

    system was a managerial tool for proper accountability. As mentioned earlier

    a good internal control was the one that was effective and efficient. In line

    with the purpose of the study, the following research objectives were

    formulated to guide the study:

    i. to correct and establish a sound internal control system within the

    organization

    ii. to enhance sound accountability in the organization

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    iii. to take into consideration the inbuilt control in measuring growth in

    the organization

    Significance of the StudyThere is need for an organization to understand its obligation and take

    necessary action as to be in a better position to set competitive service. It is

    therefore the intention of this research work to asses the present level of

    internal control in Nigeria customs service as it concerned or effects of proper

    accountability of its operations.

    The Nigeria customs service is a profit oriented and the stakeholders

    of the organization would want to see all ethical measures that will enhance

    accountability in process. Internal control system is one of the measures if

    properly design installed and operated.

    Losses, improper authorization, stealing etc and then effect onaccountability will have to be assessed in the light of the present internal

    control system. The above will not only provide an insight into the internal

    control system but will give this study the basis to make recommendations

    that will enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of a good

    design and therefore contribute to shareholders interest by enhancing and

    improving the accountability of the organization.

    Methodology

    Research DesignThis is a descriptive research design aimed at finding out the internal

    control system and managerial tools for proper accountability in Nigeria

    customs service.

    Area of the Study

    The area of this study is Nigeria customs service Oyo/Osun area

    command headquarter, Ibadan, Bounded in the north by Kwara state and in

    the south by Ogun state and in the west by Ogun state and in the East by Osun

    State

    Population of the StudyFor the purpose of the study the population of this study consisted of

    comptroller, deputy comptroller assistance comptroller, and all rank and files

    in Nigeria customs service in Oyo/Osun area command headquarter Ibadan.

    Sample and Sampling ProcedureFor the sample size, the researcher took some officers and men of

    Nigeria customs service in Oyo/Osun area command of the state. Thus, a

    sample of study consisted of the two main groups namely (Administration

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    and enforcement). The administration consisted of finance store, admin from

    each of these groups were randomly selected and were serviced with twenty

    (20) questionnaires, making a total of sixty (60) questionnaires allotted to the

    administrative officers. Samples from the enforcement officers consisted of

    patrol leaders and field officers. This group was allotted the remaining sixty

    five (65) questionnaires. Each sub-group was randomly served with twenty

    (20) questionnaires. The samples were all drawn form the staffs of Nigeria

    custom service Oyo/Osun area command, headquarter, Ibadan

    Instrument for Data CollectionThe instrument used in this study was Nigeria Customs Participation

    Questionnaire (NCS PAQ) developed by the researcher. Section A dealt with

    demographic information such as sex, marital status, educational background,

    age distribution, working experience and source of information. Section Bsought information on internal control system in the organization and

    assessed the overall influence in Nigeria customs on aspect of the officers

    work.

    The questionnaire for the internal control for the staff consisted of (8)

    items, while that for administration was made up of (16) sixteen items, both

    were structured along a likert scale, strongly agreed, Agree, Disagree and

    Strongly disagree. The officers were required to tick their responses at the

    appropriate column. The information demand from the questionnaire was

    used to moderate the response form the internal control system.

    Validity of InstrumentTo establish the content validity of the questionnaire, the researchers

    supervisor and some lecturers in the field of measurement and evaluation and

    were contacted, who made corrections that were incorporated.

    Reliability of Instrument

    Earlier on, a sample of twenty (20) non-participating officers

    response was analyzed to test for the reliability of the instrument.

    This was done through correction and result was r = 0.71. Which

    indicate a high reliability level.

    Analysis of Research Questions

    Data Interpretation According to the Question Item

    Research Question One: Does adequate internal control ensure proper

    accountability?In answering this questions, items 1, 4, 6 and 10 of the questionnaire

    were used. And this is represented in table 4.7

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    Table 4.7 Percentage Responses on Internal Control and Accountability

    Items Strongly

    Agree

    Agree Disagree Strongly

    Disagree

    Total

    1 50 22 10 18 100

    4 42 32 12 16 1006 40 30 10 20 100

    10 48 32 12 8 100

    Average 45 29 11 15 100

    Source: Research Survey

    Table 4.7, reveal that an average of 45% strongly agreed that adequate

    internal control ensure proper accountability within the organization. 29%

    respondents agreed while 11% disagreed and15% strongly disagreed. From

    the indication, majority of the respondents believe that with adequate control

    in organization it will ensure proper accountability.Research Question 2: Effective Utilization of IT play important role in

    the collection of customs duties?Table 4:8

    Items Strongly

    Agree

    Agree Disagree Strongly

    Disagree

    Total

    3 70 14 9 7 100

    7 60 30 15 5 100

    9 50 32 12 6 100

    12 47 23 15 15 100

    Average 56.8 25.8 10.3 7.1 100

    Source: Research Survey

    According to the table above, an average of 56.8% strongly agree that

    IT play important role in the duties collection, 25.8% agree and 10.3%

    disagree about the information technology role while 7.1% respondents

    strongly disagree that IT make collection of duties fast than before.

    Research Question 3: Effective Internal check associated with high

    level of accountability?

    A summary of item 2, 4, and 15 was used to describe this questionTable 4:9 Percentage Responses on Effective Internal CheckItems Strongly

    Agree

    Agree Disagree Strongly

    Disagree

    Total

    2 58 12 8 22 100

    4 42 30 12 18 100

    15 48 31 12 7 100

    Average 47 24.3 10.2 18.5 100

    Source: Research Survey

    Table 4.9, reveal that an average of 47% strongly agree that effective

    internal check associated with high level of accountability, while 24.3% agree

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    and 10.2% disagree with the above statement while 18.5% respondents is

    agree with the statement.

    Test of Hypotheses

    The hypotheses stated earlier in this research will now be empirically

    tested using the responses from the tables in this chapter.

    Hypothesis OneAdequate internal control systems do not ensure proper accountability.

    Table 4.12 Summary of Chi-Square for Internal Control and Accountability

    Source Degree of Freedom X2Cal X

    2Table Decision

    Internal Control and

    accomm

    Accountability

    3 36.32 7.815 Significant

    Source: Research Survey

    From the table above, the calculated chi-square is 36.32

    Degree of freedomTo determine the tabulated chi-square (x

    2tab) the degree of freedom

    for a table containing r row and c column will be (r 1) (c 1) degree

    of freedom

    Here r = 4 and c = 2

    Therefore degree of freedom= (4 1) (2 1) = 3 x 1 = 3

    Furthermore, to increase reliability, a 95% confidence level has been

    assumed. This mean a critical value of 0.05 and 3 degree of freedom, the chi-

    square tabulated is therefore 7.815.

    From the computation above x2calculated is greater than x

    2tabulated

    (i.e. 7.815 is less than 36.32) based on the decision rule, the researcher

    therefore rejects the null hypothesis. This implies that internal control ensures

    proper accountability.

    Hypothesis TwoUtilization of IT does not play important role in the collection of

    duties.

    In order to test this hypothesis, table 4:8 was used to give the observed

    frequencies in table.

    Summary of Chi-square on utilization of IT and collection of duties.Source Degree of Freedom X

    2Cal X

    2Tab Decision

    Utilization of IT and

    Collection of duties.

    3 20 7.815 Significant

    Source: Research Survey

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    From the table above, it is clear that the chi-square calculated is 20

    Degree of freedomTo determine the tabulated chi-square

    The degree of freedom = (r 1) (c 1)

    = (4 1) (2 1) = 3 x 1 = 3

    At a critical value of 0.05 and 3 degree of freedom the chi-square

    tabulated is 7.815

    From the computation above X2 calculated is greater than X2

    tabulated (ie 7.815 is less than 20) based on the decision rule, the researcher

    rejects the null hypothesis. Thus, effective utilization of IT play important

    role in the collection of customs duties.

    Hypothesis ThreeEffective Internal Check is not associated with high level of

    accountability.

    In testing this hypothesis, the Pearsons product movement correlation

    coefficient was performed and it is thus summarized in table 4.14

    Summary of Internal Check and associated with high level of

    AccountabilitySource of Variation Degree of Freedom r Cal r - Tab Decision

    Internal Check and high

    Level of Accountability

    98 -0.915 0.185 Non

    Significant

    Source: Research Survey

    Non significant 0.05 level

    Since the result of the correlation co-efficient shown above is

    negative, we therefore reject null hypothesis.

    Discussion of ResultsThe analysis of results in chapter four shows that effective internal

    check associate with high level of accountability in the actualization of

    customs result (Adeniyi (2005)

    ii. That Effective utilization of IT play important role and made work

    done in fulfill the original plan Collin (2008).

    iii. That Effective Internal Control help to achieve high revenue, proper

    accountability, free fraud and positive result in the customs (Ojaide 1992, and

    Michel (2004).

    However, Internal Control System is only tools for achieving

    organizational goals and put organization in a normal shape. It is only

    mechanism that help organization to function effectively.

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    To ensure that important documentation which provide the

    information on which significant strategic and decisions are based provide a

    complete, accurate and timely record of relevant events.

    Horngren (1982:382) writing further on the superficial attention paid

    to the subject of internal control was once regarded as a technical matter that

    was confirmed to a course in auditing. However, many secret payment and

    embezzlements were disclosed during the 1970s. as a result, internal control

    has become a control responsibility of top management. The management of

    Nigeria customs is interested in the survival and continued growths of

    government parastatals in business give priority.

    Attention to the installation and efficient operation of the internal

    control system. The accountability of the operation of an organization

    depends extensively on the strength of the installed system of internal control.

    An organization that has an operationally effective and efficient internalcontrol system has better chances of improved accountability than one with a

    weak internal control system. Internal control in any government parastaltals

    such as Nigeria customs is not a subject that should be taken lightly. Indeed,

    without if there can be no successful accountability in business. This may

    explain why some government parastatals succeed and the other fails or why

    many public enterprises and parastatals fail woefully in business. Government

    parastatals go into operation for the sole purpose of making profits for

    government. Since a weak or non extensive system of internal control has

    therefore become a central responsibility of top management.Notwithstanding the size of an organization, whether it is a public or

    parastatals, manager and accountant are alert to the rudiment of proper

    accounting system and controls. A proper accounting record which are kept.

    Conclusion

    Internal Control system involves internal auditing, administrative and

    other accounting controls set-up by the management in order to ensure

    achievement of its planned objective. These objectives entails keeping of

    appropriate records, ensuring adherence to the management policies and

    ensuring that actions are in line with plane.

    This study has endeavored to find out what relationship the internal

    control measures have with the key to accountability and management of the

    Nigeria Customs Service. Based on the outcome of the five hypotheses which

    was empirically tested and the research finding stated earlier in this chapter,

    the researcher therefore, concludes that the impact of internal control system

    in Nigeria customs is positive. Thus, it is conclusive that internal control

    system in the customs service affect positively revenue collection and

    accountability among the rank and file of Nigeria customs service.

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    RecommendationsInternal Control System are not a substitute for good management,

    they can assist management but do not replace management of provide an

    excuse for poor management. The following recommendations are adopted.

    1. There should be a continue internal check and audit on the part of

    management and low level of management to ensure adequate internal control

    system.

    2. There should be adequate internal control system to ensure proper

    accountability.

    3. There should be adequate motivation such as bones, incentives to the

    employees/officers to avoid financial fraud.

    4. There should be effective use of information technology to enhance

    the high level of security check in the various departments.

    5. Here should be competent team of experts to work out the logic ofstandard internal control.

    Implication of Findings

    The finding showed that customs operates internal control but staffs

    generally are not educated on the importance

    It must be emphasized that the attitudes of some offices sometimes is

    devised to any system of internal control set up

    Inadequate assessment of officers work before submit will leave the

    organization with is accountability Most officers / employed are always in hurry to fill the entire essential

    document before a transaction is finally executed

    Most officers are deficient of one good administrative control

    measures of evaluation and appraisal.

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