International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) Volume 6 Issue 4, May-June 2022 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6659713 @ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD50230 | Volume – 6 | Issue – 4 | May-June 2022 Page 1114 Effective Performance and Accountability Reporting Challenges in Nigeria Public Sector: The Accountants and Other Professionals Perception Peter-Mario Efesiri Efenyumi; Dheseviano Emiaso; Emmanuel Ikechukwu Okoye Ph.D Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria ABSTRACT There has been perceived weakness deeply rooted in corruption in the accountability of government fund as experienced in all facets of Nigeria public sector and consequential waste of national resources, loss of human capital and decay of economic infrastructure within the economy. It is evident that the people (electorates) are in a bad position and suffering socio-economically because of the lack of integrity and accountability in governments around the world, Nigeria in particular. This study empirically analyse the effective performance and accountability reporting challenges in the public sector of the Nigerian economy. 138 questionnaires were administered to the respondents but only 125 were returned (comprising 24 Directors and 55 Accountants/Auditors of Finance and Account from Ministries/Ministerial departments (79) and 46 Accountants/Auditors from LGAs), thereby representing ninety percent (90.6%) of the population and the data generated for this study were analysed using simple percentages, Z-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, 20.0) version. The result shows that accrual basis of accounting significantly promote more effective performance and accountability reporting in Nigeria Public Sector and that there is significant relationship between improved accountability and performance reporting in Nigeria Public Sector and professional accounting bodies. The study concluded that the How to cite this paper: Peter-Mario Efesiri Efenyumi | Dheseviano Emiaso | Emmanuel Ikechukwu Okoye "Effective Performance and Accountability Reporting Challenges in Nigeria Public Sector: The Accountants and Other Professionals Perception" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456- 6470, Volume-6 | Issue-4, June 2022, pp.1114-1126, URL: www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd50230.pdf Copyright © 2022 by author (s) and International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development Journal. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) basic fundamental way for economic development is financial discipline and elimination of wastages of national resources in the public sector which is the direct function of accountability that it is rather unfortunate that the level of accountability experienced in the country is unacceptable due to weak accounting infrastructure, ineffective oversight bodies and the clog in the wheel of legal framework. The study recommended that Government should ensure that they create enabling environment for the development of professional Accountants and employed them in the civil service; and that would be achieved by retaining the existing through motivation and attracting the new with good working conditions; a proactive legislature and regulatory framework that should not only exist on paper but must be operational should be in place, thus giving the FRCN the operational right through adequate funding; the provisions of 1999 constitution authorising review of audited report by PAC should be strictly adhered to with punishment spelled out for non-compliance and also provide for the qualification of members of PAC. More so, there should be re orientation of members to encourage them to work in the public sector and the professional accounting bodies should motivate accounting students aspiring to be professionals while the civil society and organized labour unions should help create a more vibrant civil society so that they can balance the effects of bureaucratic actions. KEYWORDS: Accountability, Performance reporting, integrity, Wastage, National resources, Fiscal discipline, Corruption IJTSRD50230