Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between going concern assessment and accountability in public institutions has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Enugu State where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Enugu State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on going concern assessment, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with accountability in public institutions, particularly within Enugu State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about going concern assessment without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect accountability in public institutions. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Going Concern Assessment on accountability in public institutions in Enugu State.
2. To assess the extent to which going concern assessment influences accountability in public institutions within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with going concern assessment in relation to accountability in public institutions.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing going concern assessment in order to improve accountability in public institutions.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of going concern assessment on accountability in public institutions in Enugu State?
2. To what extent does going concern assessment influence accountability in public institutions within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with going concern assessment in relation to accountability in public institutions?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize going concern assessment in order to improve accountability in public institutions?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of accounting, this study has practical value for management teams within Enugu State seeking to understand how going concern assessment translates into measurable outcomes around accountability in public institutions. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Going Concern Assessment and its relationship with accountability in public institutions within the context of Enugu State. It reflects a BSc-level scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.