A Stakeholder Approach to Triple Bottom Line Accounting: Nigerian Experience

The broad objective of this study is to determine whether triple bottom line reports has been able to deliver stakeholders with the needed satisfaction when compared to conventional financial reports. To achieve the above objective three research questions were raised, to address the issue of triple bottom line report and stakeholder satisfaction. From these hypotheses were formulated. The descriptive method of research design was employed to generate the required data. The population of were made up of three distinctive groups: Investors’, Customers’ and Accountants. The primary data were summarized using tables and the formulated hypotheses analyzed using one-sample z test procedure done with the aid of SPSS version 20. Our findings indicated that Investors' have no confidence in the use of triple bottom line report as a basis for choice of investment decision; while, Customers on the other hand do not rely on the use of triple bottom line report as a medium for assessing organizations' impact on the society. Accountants' were negative on the level of rigour and transparency exerted in the preparation of triple bottom line report. Based on this, it was recommended that companies should disclose more quantifiable triple bottom line indicators encompassing social, environmental and economic performance indicators. The development of standards to guide companies in the identification of variables for disclosure is also suggested.