NAICOM gives insurers Dec.31 deadline to settle outstanding claims

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has given insurance companies Dec.31 deadline to clear all outstanding claims.

The Head, Communication and Stakeholders Management Sub-committee of the Insurers Committee, Mrs Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, made this known while addressing a news conference after a meeting of management in Lagos.

The meeting marked the first gathering of the Insurers Committee with Mr Segun Omosehin, as the Commissioner For Insurance.

Nwachukwu, also Managing Director, Rex Insurance Ltd., said the commissioner charged insurance companies CEOs at the meeting to ensure that no outstanding claims is captured at the close of their 2024 financial accounts.

The NAICOM boss, she said, tasked the insurance company’s executives to defend the insurance industry through payment of genuine claims, which is integral.

“The regulator said it would be checking in an intensive and focused manner, the outstanding claims in the insurer’s books.

“The commission said its focus is on the soundness of the insurance industry, measured by the ability of meet their obligations when due,”she said.

According to her, the commissioner also charged the insurance companies to take steps towards recapitalisation, by evaluating their financial position, as to the need to raise fresh capital.

She said the charge came by the regulator,having exposed a draft of the Risk Based Supervision (RBS) regulations to the operators, in the event that recapitalisation takes-off.

“If there will be need to raise capital, insurance companies need to start speaking with their different boards, shareholders about the possibility of recapitalisation happening, before it becomes a regulation,”she said.

Nwachukwu revealed that the commissioner further encouraged brokers to ensure strict compliance with the “no premium, no cover” regulation, having observed some violations to the regulation.

She said the commissioner also charged CEOs of insurance firms to get involved in addressing complaints.

Nwachukwu also stated that the regulator encouraged the insurance operators to submit the financial statements of their companies early enough, to create more confidence on the industry.

She mentioned that Omosehin charged the insurers to focus their attention significantly on Nigeria’s Data Protection regulations for the insurance industry.

The sub-committee chairman said NAICOM boss also wants insurance operators to pay specific attention to the implementation of the 10- year Insurance Strategic Plan.

She said this was important, having unanimously agreed to seven thrusts of commitment that would enable the industry meets its objective by year 2027.

Nwachukwu added that the commissioner charged the insurance operators to also pay attention to the legal and regulatory framework for the industry, under the Insurance Bill 2024.

“He spoke about focusing of compliance issues, under the Prudential Guidelines released by NAICOM to the insurers and put an end to Corporate Governance abuses, recognised within the industry.

“The commissioner discussed the National Credit Guarantee Scheme signed by President Bola Tinubu.

“If insurers invest in the scheme, we have the potential of sitting on the board of the facility, where a lot of decisions would be taken,”she said.

According to her, Omosehin also informed the insurance operators on the significant progress made on the Agency’s portal, noting that all resources are in place to continue the efficiency of the portal.

Nwachukwu said the present administration of NAICOM is very clear on the insurance industry and what it expects to see and has hinged its success on the collective Insurance Industry Reforms plans agreed upon as an industry.

She further said that the regulator insisted that insurers get the right approval from NAICOM before newly appointed Executive Director of insurance companies assumes their appointment.

The insurer stated that the committee also reconstituted its sub-committees in line with the pillars of its 10-year roadmap for the insurance industry.

Nwachukwu listed the reconstituted sub-committees of the Insurers Committee as, the Insurance Sector Stability committee, Communication and Stakeholders Management committee, Technology and Talent Management committee and Customer Service and Market Expansion committee.