Ugoh, Timothy Terver2023-12-102023-12-102018-05-11BEING A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES NASARAWA STATE UNIVERISTY, KEFFI IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCEhttps://keffi.nsuk.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14448/820Auditing as a corporate governance mechanism has been commissioned to resolve the problem of information asymmetry between corporate managers and shareholders by providing independent audit reports as to the truth and fairness or otherwise of the state of affairs of corporate concerns. Over the years however, the credibility of such reports has been called to question as a result of well publicized and spectacular corporate scandals and Auditors subsequent involvement in these scandals. This has accelerated the Audit Expectation Gap Problem. Previous studies have shown consistent evidences of existence of the Audit Expectation Gap Problem across the globe. Solving this problem require effective action to eliminate or at least reduce the gap. The study seeks to identify the nexus between Auditing education, auditing professions self-regulation policy, auditing standards, nature and content of audit reports, auditor’s independence and the Audit Expectation Gap in Nigeria. The study also seeks to know if these variables can be used as mechanisms to narrow this gap. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Respondents constituted; two hundred and ninety-six (296) auditors, investors, bankers and investments analyst in the north central Nigeria. The statistical tool employed in this study is the parametric test Pearson’s correlation coefficient to draw conclusions since the data was collected from different categories of respondents. It was found that all the identified variables have a positively strong relationship with the AEG in Nigeria. It was also concluded that all the identified variables contribute to the AEG problem in Nigeria and therefore can be used as mechanisms to narrow this gap. The study thus recommended following: the audit profession evolve simplified and broad based strategies for educating the public on the basic auditing issues, an independent body should be set up to monitor the regulatory process of the profession, auditors primary objective should include detecting and reporting fraud, other corporate irregularities and management inefficiencies, the profession should adopt long form of audit reports and auditors should be banned from providing Non Audit Services to their clients.enThesis