Business
NAICOM Should Resolve Insurance Hiccups – FG
The Federal Government has explained that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) Act 1997 and the Insurance Act 2003 were being reviewed to provide an effective framework for insurance business in Nigeria, even as it urged the newly reconstituted Board of NAICOM to resolve all issues confronting the regulatory agency in discharge of its mandates.
The Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola, who spoke while inaugurating the NAICOM board under the chairmanship of a former Minister, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma expressed hope that Board would be strictly guided by the provisions of the Acts after its enactment to ensure international best practice.
Presently, he stressed the need for the Board to be more pragmatic and innovative in resolving “Issues militating against the full realisation of the objectives of the commission such as poor underwriting practice, excessive risk appetite, lack of integrity, lack of autonomy and in appropriate pressure for short-term returns.”
According to Mr. Babalola, “these issues must be addressed by the Board. Your roles as Board members are strategic rather than operational. You must give the desired direction to the management.”
He said that the members of the board must justify the confidence reposed on the board by the government by operating within the confines of the NAICOM Act 2003.
Part II Section 9 (a-d) of the Act provides the mandate of the board including, to manage and supervise the affairs of the commission, for the overall policy and general administration, of the commission an act in the name of the commission.
Also, to recommend to the minister from time to time the rates of the contributions to be made by insurance institutions to funds of the commission, and to do such other things and enter into such transactions which in its opinion are necessary to ensure the efficient performance of its functions under the Act or any other enactment.
The Minister noted that the insurance sector which is part of the financial system is expected to play a vital role in the federal government’s efforts to move the economy forward. “The sector represents an important component in the financial intermediation chain and remains the backbone of Nigeria’s risk management systems”, he said.
In her response on behalf of the Board members, the Board chairman, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma, expressed gratitude to the president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for considering them worthy of the board.
She assured that the member would betray the confidence reposed on them saying, “we assure you that we will serve diligently to the realisation of the Federal Government’s Financial System Strategy (FSS 2020)”.
“We will lift the insurance sector forward to play its role in the nation’s economy in line with international best practice.”
The members of the new NAICOM Board to be inaugurated include: Hajiya Inna Ciroma as chairman of the Board, Senator Collins Ndu, Mr. Oluwatayo Boye, Alhaji Aminu Ahmed Tapeco, and the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM, Mr. Fola Daniel.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has appealed to law enforcements agencies across the country to allow petroleum products tanker drivers free movement during the lockdown order in parts of the country by President Muhammadu Buhari and some state governments.
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr Kennie Obateru. The NNPC boss said the exemption granted by President Muhammadu Buhari in his broadcast to certain categories of essential workers covers the operations of petroleum products tanker drivers.
The President has on Sunday ordered total lockdown of Lagos State, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Ogun State.
The release said the Federal Government counts on the support of the law enforcement agencies across the country to ensure smooth distribution of petroleum products across the nook and cranny of the country during the period of the restriction.
The corporation said that NNPC has over 2.6 billion litres of petrol, enough to last the period of the lockdown and beyond, advising that motorists should not engage in panic buying.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on public companies to publish the impact of coronavirus on their business operations.
SEC in a circular dated March 31, and released in Abuja yesterday, advised the companies to publish the information on their websites and or other relevant media.
“All public companies are required to continue to make material disclosures to investors on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their business operations,” the commission stated.
According to SEC, they should also continue to disclose the trend and outlook of the company as well as updates on implementation of business continuity plans.
The commission said it would continue to engage and collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure that the capital market remained resilient, adding that the move was part of its business continuity process.
“In compliance with the Federal Government’s directives on the cessation of movement in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, SEC has activated its business continuity process.
“In light of the global pandemic of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), the commission wishes to provide additional guidance to the capital market as follows:
“Public companies who plan to conduct Annual General Meetings are required to ensure that the conduct of the meetings comply with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the Investments and Securities Act, the SEC Rules and Regulations, among others.
“Debt issuers are also expected to continue to engage trustees to ensure that relevant disclosures are provided,’’ the commission said.
The commission enjoined all Capital Market Operators (CMOs) to continue to monitor the real and potential risks COVID-19 might have had on their business operations and the discharge of services to investors and clients.
SEC called on all issuers and trustees who might require further guidance to contact it through the following email addresses: quotedcoyreturns@sec.gov.ng,offerapplications@sec.gov.ng, and dhpostoffer@sec.gov.ng.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has appealed to state governors to give necessary directives to security agencies to allow smooth passage of essential products across states of the federation.
In a statement to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos, MAN President, Mr Mansur Ahmed, said that better sensitisation of such officers became necessary following the actions of some of them, which were hampering the chain of distribution.
Ahmed said, “Since the decision to lock down economic activities by different states and the eventual national declaration by the Federal Government, MAN has maintained consistent talks with relevant governmental authorities.
“The talk is on the survival and sustenance of livelihood of Nigerians, via the operation of critical manufacturing sector and has indeed yielded positive results.
“One of the numerous results is the letter addressed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to my humble self for manufacturers.
“The food, beverage, pharmaceutical and other complementing sector that makes the value chain of essential products available are very critical.
“The Association is glad that government recognised this critical role in its directive for 14-day lockdown.
“Let me add that the directive of the NGF has yielded good outcomes in some states as our members have testified to unhindered operations in the face of the lockdown.
“Notwithstanding, some security operatives in other states are not yielding, particularly, the rank and file officers on the field.”
Ahmed said, in order to address this setback, MAN has been in talks with the NGF to give the necessary directives for adequate sensitisation of officers to give manufacturers of essential products easy movement.
He commended the Federal Government’s response to manufacturers as it tackles Coronavirus pandemic.
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