Risk based supervision best model for insurance industry – NAICOM

As the insurance industry’s supervisory body, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) continues to assists insurance companies to navigate the tough grounds of recapitalizing their operations, it says that risk base supervision is the way to go. NAICOM explained that risk based supervision is a better way of encouraging the growth of insurance companies considering that the model  allows existing firms to factor which level of business  to domicile its operation.

Commissioner of Insurance and chief executive officer of NAICOM Mr Sunday Thomas made the observation when he addressed insurance directors at a conference in Lagos with theme “Insurance Industry in a Changing World”. He noted that rapid changes has sprout from Covid pandemic in many fronts which have opened doors of opportunities for many forward looking positive minds but the reverse for many who are not able to cope with the speed at which some of these changes appeared.

“It is on this premise that the Commission commenced the implementation of Risk Based Supervision (RBS) of the sector. We incepted the conduct of a pilot inspection of some select companies in September this year preparatory to full implementation and the reports are now being reviewed.” Firm on the way taken, NAICOM declares, “going forward, inspection of insurance entities will be on the RBS approach.”

Thomas also let the directors know that the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards IFRS 17 dateline of 1st January 2023 “is right before us.” Reminding directors the Commission’s up to date approach, he explains, “Sufficient capacity building engagements have been conducted and sub-working groups inaugurated to facilitate the migration. You are therefore required to ensure that your entities are in full compliance and ready to the dateline.”

NAICOM explicitly let the directors know that insurance development in the country rests with them and the way to open the market is for them and their management teams to work closely to harness the market particularly the retail end.

On this issue like others, Thomas said the Commission is not prompting and laidback but, “is working assiduously to open up the market particularly the retail end, conducting engagements with various agencies and state governments with various agencies and state governments on the need to boost insurance culture across the country.”

“If the industry is desirous of having significant impact on the nation’s GDP, it therefore must take retail business seriously. This has to start from the policy level and the directions clearly spelt out. This also must be supported with massive awareness campaign about insurance products across the geo-political zones taken into consideration peculiarity of each of the regions.”