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.