ABSTRACT
The
objective of this study was to evaluate the internal control system in
operation at power holding company of Nigeria Plc in Enugu State
with a view to knowing its impact on revenue generation in the state. A sample
of 40 was selected for the study randomly. The questionnaires were used in
gathering the primary data while secondary data were collected from the work of
others in the form of literature review. The data collected were analyzed using
the chi-square (x2) as the statistical tool to determine the
valuation of the hypothesis. The findings concluded that weak internal control
system encourages collusion fraud loss of revenue, embezzlement and
computation. This have always impeded the company’s ability to effectively
supply electricity to customers and there from generate revenue. Internal audit
system ensures operations compliance with set policies, promoting accuracy and
reliability of transactions recording. In addition, effective internal control
system ensure effective recommends the remodeling of the company’s internal
control system and strengthening of the investigating unit. The components
sectors of the present corporate Power Holding Company of Nigeria PLC should be
unbundled into separate distinct independent entities that handle generation,
transmission, distribution and marketing. It further recommends that prepaid
meters should be seen as an alternative to further accumulate debts.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
List of figures v
Abstract
vi
Table of contents vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background Of The Study 1
1.1 Statement
Of Problem 6
1.2 Objective Of The Study 8
1.3 Significance Of The Study 8
1.4 Scope and Limitation Of The Study 9
1.5 Research Hypothesis 10
1.6 Research Questions 11
1.7 Historical Background of Power Holding Company of
1.8 Definition of Terms 14
CHAPTER TWO:
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 What is Revenue? 17
2.2 What is Internal Control System 18
2.3 Objectives of Internal Control System 20
2.4 Types of Internal Control System 21
2.5 Components of Internal Control System 23
2.6 Functions of Internal Control System 56
2.7 Roles and Responsibilities. 58
2.8 Internal Control System And The Auditors 62
2.9 Operation Of Internal Control System At Power
Holding Company Of Nigeria 64
2.10 Limitation Of Internal Control System 71
CHAPTER
THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
1.1
Research
Design 73
1.2
Sources Of
Data 74
1.3
Population Of
The Study 75
1.4
Sample Size 75
1.5
Description Of
Questionnaire 76
1.6
Method of Data
Analysis 76
1.7
Statistical
Test For Hypothesis 77
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRTATION
4.1 Data Analysis and Interpretation 78
4.2 Test Of Hypothesis 84
4.2.1Hypothesis One 84
4.2.2Hypothesis Two 86
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF
FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary Of Findings 88
5.2 Conclusion 89
5.3 Recommendation 90
5.4 Suggestions For Further Investigation 91
Bibliography 92
Appendices 96
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0.
BACKGROUND OF THE
STUDY
Every organization has a
purpose, which includes making some product and rendering some services at a
price. For normal operations of the business organization, it is the product or
services of the firm that cause cash receipts (revenue) to flow into the firm.
Revenue is associated with products or service of a firm as source of expected
cash receipts. Revenue is an event; an increase that applies definitely to
value that is monetary. This increase occurs because the firm undertakes
certain activities or there is any performance by the firm.
Revenue
therefore refers to the monetary event of asset valves increasing in the firm
due to the physical event of production or sales of the firms’ products or
services.
In
Kam (1987:237), Financial Accounting Standard Board(FASB) defines revenue as inflows
or other enhancements of assets of an entity or settlements of its liabilities
(or combination of both) during a period from delivery or producing goods,
rendering service or other activities that constitutes the entity’s ongoing
major or central operations. In addition, Hongreen et al (2002:568) described
revenue as inflows of asset (almost always cash or accounts receivables)
received for products or services provided to customers.
On
the basis of the above, National Electric Power Authority now Power Holding
Company of Nigeria is a government owned public utility establishment enjoying
almost total monopoly in generating, transmitting and delivering electricity to
all homes and businesses in Nigeria. According to the establishments customer
service chartered (2004), her mission as a service industry is to
satisfactorily meet customers electricity demand in the most cost effective
manner using proven technology and well motivated customer friendly work force
with adequate consideration for the environment.
Her
goals include:
I.
To continuously
improve her service to her customer.
II.
To realize full
payment for timely accurate and complete billing of electricity delivered.
III.
Institutionalise
business and commercial orientation among the work force.
IV.
Gradually aiming at
closing the gap between demand and supply by upgrading and expanding,
generating, transmission and distribution of infrastructure.
V.
To improve skills and
motivation of staff.
To achieve the above mission and goals, the
management of the establishment must adopt measures to ensure that available
resources are prudently used to obtain valve for money from resources allocated
to them. Management in turn should generate operational data with which they
evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of their operation. It is fundament
aspect of management stewardship responsibility to provide interested parties
with reasonable assurance that their organisation is effectively controlled and
that the accounting data it receives on a timely basis are accurate and
dependable. Developing a strong system of internal control provides this
assurance.
Thus internal control is defined
as the whole system of control, financial and otherwise established by the
management in order to carry on the business of the enterprise in an orderly
and efficient manner to ensure adherence to management policies safeguard the
assets and secure as far as possible the completeness and accuracy of the records.
In addition the American institute
of Certified Public Accountants
in 1949 defined internal control as comprising the plan of organisation and all
the coordinate methods and measures adopted within a business (or non profit
making body) to safeguard its assets, check the accuracy and reliability of its
accounting data promote operational efficiency and encourage adherence to
prescribed managerial policies. A ‘system’ of internal control extends beyond
those matters which relate directly to the functions of the accounting and
financial department.
However, it is an established
fact that all the business units and service centre of power holding company of
Nigerian plc in Enugu
state are often plagued by accounting and administrative control problems as it
affect revenue generation and other assets. As a result the establishment
revenue base has assumed a downward trend.
It
has also been shown that despite