The recently installed Governing Board of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is asking the Federal Government for assistance in majorly overhauling the insurance market, including the abolition of underperforming firms.
When leading members of the Governing Board on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Monday, Dr. Abubakar Sani, the Board Chairman of NAICOM, said this.
Dr. Sani explicitly informed the Minister of the board’s intention to carry out particular operations targeted at purging the nation’s insurance market, reiterating that the sector’s code of ethics is now being enforced.
“We shall enforce the professional code of ethics among the insurance entities, and strengthen their corporate governance, which the board believes will sanitize the market.”
The NAICOM board will in due course revisit the matter of recapitalization of the insurance industry and will clean up its act with the enforcement of the code of ethics of the insurance profession and practice, and the code of good corporate governance in companies.
The board is working to sanitize the market and will be taking out companies that are not measuring up to expectations, “he said.
In her remarks, Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning gave the board and management of NAICOM instructions to develop and put into practice policies that will strengthen the insurance industry and reposition it to increase its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the economy as a whole.
However, she advised members to carefully abide by the current policies, directives, and circulars that govern the activity of the governing boards of federal agencies, commissions, and parastatals.
“The initiative to pay this visit barely two months after your inauguration demonstrates your sense of purpose and desire to work closely with the ministry towards realizing the mandates of NAICOM.
“At your inauguration, I called your attention to some issues of interest and concern in the insurance industry that require your urgent attention.
This visit, therefore, affords me yet another opportunity to once more congratulate you on your inauguration and inform you that government has very high expectations of this board.
You must build on the successes of the immediate past board. “In this regard, I wish to restate some of those issues and remind you of your role as chairman and members of the governing board of NAICOM.
“The board which also comprises the management should develop and implement policies which will strengthen the insurance sector and reposition the industry to enhance its contribution to the nation’s GDP and to the economy at large.
“It is of utmost importance for the new board and the management of the National Insurance Commission to work harmoniously together in order to actualize the mandate of the Commission.”
“The board has to develop strategies to systematically build the capacity of members through workshops, seminars, study tours, etc. to enable effective contribution towards the growth of the industry, especially as some members were not drawn from the insurance sector.
“Members to note that there are guidelines, regulations, and circulars that guide the operation and conduct of governing boards of Federal Government parastatals, agencies, and commissions and should be strictly adhered to – Frequency of meetings; entitlements of board members, travel guidelines and related matters.
“Deepening insurance penetration in the country: There would be a need to achieve more insurance penetration in the country.” In this regard, there is a need to evolve new insurance products and policies.
“The board and the management must ensure that the conditions of service and welfare of the staff create the conducive atmosphere to promote staff productivity and engender industrial peace.”
Finally, members should commit to developing and implementing policies that would promote the reputation of the industry through prompt payment of claims.
Your target should be to take the industry to greater and enviable heights during your tenure.
“In conclusion, I wish to restate the ministry’s commitment to continue to assist and support the commission towards realizing its mandate for the overall benefits of the nation”, stated the minister.
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