Corporate social responsibility and profitability of listed oil firms in Nigeria

Abstract

PURPOSE: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities are crucial for the cordial relationship between the business and the community, and despite the cost involved in CSR investments such relationship may have favourable consequence on community patronage and financial outcome. This study investigated the effect of CSR activities on the profitability of oil firms listed in Nigeria by ascertaining how community development costs (CDC) and employee benefits are associated with the financial performance of the firms.

METHODOLOGY: Data on the study variables from thirteen oil and gas firms were collected over a period of twenty-one years (1998 to 2018), and analysed using a heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation-consistent regression technique to determine the effect of CSR activities on the financial performance of the sampled firms.

FINDINGS: The results showed that community development cost (CDC) had a significant positive effect on profitability. Employee benfits also have similar effect on financial performance. These findings indicate that investing in CSR activities ultimately has a favourable impact on corporate financial performance. Accordingly, the study recommended that oil firms should increasingly invest in employee welfare and community development projects in Nigeria.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This paper used a data set drawn from almost all the listed oil firms in Nigeria over a relatively long time span. The results support the usefulness of CSR activities to corporate entities, thereby encouraging oil firms to conduct more CSR investments in Nigeria.