ABSTRACT
This study assesses the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the Nigerian oil and gas sector using international standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the UN Global Compact principles, ISO 26000, the Accountability AA 1000 Standards, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The study adopted the use of secondary data in its scope. All companies operating in the oil sector of the Nigerian economy constituted the population, while the sample consisted of the six major oil multinationals which account for over 50 per cent of the oil exploration in Nigeria. Content analysis of CSR documents and established scoring criteria were adopted for the analysis of data. The results show a substantial variation in the level of attention and extent of disclosure of CSR by the multinationals. The prevailing approaches to CSR are seen as fragmented, cosmetic and disconnected from business strategy. These variations could be resolved by the institution of a mandatory CSR framework in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
