Environmental, Social, and Governance Procurement Practices and Performance Outcomes in Electricity Distribution Utilities: Evidence from Nigeria Using PLS-SEM

Reliable electricity distribution remains a critical challenge in many developing economies, where persistent operational inefficiencies, weak governance structures, and sustainability concerns undermine service delivery and financial performance. In Nigeria, electricity distribution companies (DisCos) operate in a highly regulated and capital-intensive environment, making procurement practices a strategic lever for improving organisational outcomes. Drawing on stakeholder theory, institutional theory, and the resource-based view, this study examines the effects of environmental, social, and governance (ESG)–oriented procurement practices on organisational performance in Nigeria’s electricity distribution utilities. Adopting a cross-sectional research design, data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered via Google Forms to 250 employees across thirteen licensed DisCos, targeting staff involved in procurement, operations, finance, internal audit, and regulatory compliance. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that environmental (β = 0.21, p < 0.01), social (β = 0.29, p < 0.001), and governance (β = 0.41, p < 0.001) procurement practices each exert positive and statistically significant effects on organisational performance, with governance procurement emerging as the strongest predictor. The model explains a substantial proportion of the variance in organisational performance (R² = 0.62) and demonstrates strong predictive relevance (Q² = 0.41). By providing sector-specific empirical evidence from a developing-country electricity market, this study extends the sustainable procurement literature and highlights the strategic importance of embedding ESG principles into procurement systems. The findings offer actionable insights for utility managers and policymakers seeking to enhance efficiency, service reliability, and stakeholder trust through procurement reform.可靠的电力配送仍是许多发展中经济体面临的关键挑战：持续存在的运营低效、治理结构薄弱以及可持续性顾虑，均会破坏服务交付与财务绩效。在尼日利亚，电力配送公司（electricity distribution companies, DisCos）处于高度监管且资本密集型的运营环境中，采购实践因此成为提升组织绩效的战略抓手。本研究基于利益相关者理论、制度理论与资源基础观，探讨了以环境、社会及治理（environmental, social, and governance, ESG）为导向的采购实践对尼日利亚电力配送公用事业企业组织绩效的影响。本研究采用横断面研究设计，通过谷歌表单（Google Forms）向13家持牌电力配送公司的250名员工发放结构化问卷，调研对象涵盖采购、运营、财务、内部审计及合规监管岗位人员。研究采用偏最小二乘结构方程模型（Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling, PLS-SEM）对收集的数据进行分析。结果显示，环境采购（β = 0.21, p < 0.01）、社会采购（β = 0.29, p < 0.001）与治理采购（β = 0.41, p < 0.001）均对组织绩效产生显著正向影响，其中治理采购的预测效力最强。该模型可解释组织绩效中相当比例的方差（R² = 0.62），并展现出较强的预测相关性（Q² = 0.41）。本研究从发展中国家电力市场获取了针对性的实证证据，拓展了可持续采购相关研究领域，并凸显了将ESG原则嵌入采购体系的战略重要性。研究结果可为公用事业管理者与政策制定者提供可落地的见解，助力其通过采购改革提升运营效率、服务可靠性与利益相关者信任。