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Govs Agree To Implement Autonomy For State Legislature, Judiciary In May

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 Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Conference of Speakers of State Leg­islature and other stakeholders have reached an agreement on the implementation of the financial autonomy for state legislature and judiciary.

The chairman of the Nigeria Gov­ernors’ Forum, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State made this known to State House correspondents at the end of a meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting was presided over by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

He said: “We are here for legislative and judicial auton­omy and governors, speakers of state Assemblies and the judges of the states are on the same page as far as this issue is concerned.

“We just emerged from a meeting with the Solicitor General of the Federation, the representatives of the ju­diciary and those of the Con­ference of Speakers and we are all in force, an agreement has been reached.

“The issue is about imple­mentation. There has been no objection from governors on judicial and legislative au­tonomy.

“As a matter of fact, it would not have passed if governors were not in sup­port in the first instance. So, that issue has been fully and holistically addressed,” he said.

Fayemi maintained that modalities were being fine-tuned and the implementa­tion of the agreement would begin in May.

He said: “We don’t just want to agree to something on paper without working out the modalities for imple­mentation.

“Thankfully, the meeting we just emerged from with the Chief of Staff to the Presi­dent chairing, has worked out the modalities, to the satisfac­tion of all the parties.

“As soon as the final doc­ument that is being cleaned up emerges, it will be imple­mented as soon as possible and that will be definitely not later than the end of May.”

He, therefore, called on striking judiciary workers to call off and resume work in the interest of the nation.

“In the interest of the nation, we believe that the striking workers should re­turn to their offices because as far as this has gone, we have met with all the parties concerned and the president, through his Chief of Staff, has been monitoring what has been happening.

“And I think we are rea­sonably at a position where whether you speak to the Conference of Speakers chairperson, or you speak to me, or you speak to the repre­sentative of the judiciary or the Solicitor General of the Federation, you will hear that we are speaking with one voice on the implementation.

“And no later than May, you will start seeing the im­plementation of the agree­ment that we have reached,” he said.

Those who attended the meeting included Gover­nors Bagudu Atiku of Keb­bi, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Simon Lalong of Plateau,

Others were the Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Akpata, as well as the leadership of the Conference of Speakers of States Legis­lature and that of states judi­ciary.

Earlier, the Senate on Mon­day said that the indepen­dence of the judiciary was non-negotiable.

Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, said this while reacting to the protest by members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the National Assembly, Abuja, in solidarity with striking Judi­ciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) protesting financial autonomy.

JUSUN began a nation­wide indefinite strike on Monday, April 6 over the non-implementation of ju­dicial financial autonomy as enshrined in the constitution.

President Muhammadu Buhari had signed an Execu­tive Order granting financial autonomy to the judiciary and State House of Assem­bly in May 2020, after several agitations.

However, the gazetting of the order was suspended after Buhari met with governors, who later expressed concern over its constitutionality.

Reacting to the develop­ment, Bamidele who said that the independence of the judiciary was non-negotiable added that no democracy could survive without rule of law and independence of the judiciary.

“For me as a Nigerian, it is laughable that we still need at this point, to be grappling with the need to grant judicia­ry independence at whatever level be it at the federal, state and local government level.

“Our laws are very clear on this,” he said.

He said that the National Assembly had guaranteed the independence of the judiciary at the federal level calling on state Houses of Assembly to do same.

“For the National Assem­bly, we have done the needful by making necessary laws that can guarantee indepen­dence of the judiciary at the federal level. So for us, it is not an issue because we have done the needful.”

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Leadway Health HMO Wins Award Again

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Leadway Health HMO has been honoured with the Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) of the Year award at the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA) for the third consecutive year.
This achievement affirms Leadway Health HMO’s position as a consistent leader in delivering innovative, accessible, and customer-focused healthcare solutions across Nigeria. Leadway Health HMO set a new record, one that has never been achieved in the 15-year history of the NHEAwards.
The award, presented in Lagos recently, 2025, celebrates the organisation’s excellence in service delivery, technology integration, unmatched service delivery, and its expanding provider network.
Speaking on this achievement, Chief Executive Officer, Leadway Health HMO, Dr. Tokunbo Alli, stated, “Receiving the HMO of the Year award for the third consecutive year is a deeply meaningful milestone for us at Leadway Health HMO. It is more than an accolade; it is a resounding validation of our commitment to transforming healthcare delivery in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.
“In a country where fewer than one in ten people have access to health insurance, we recognise the immense responsibility we carry. Through our investment in digital innovation, operational efficiency, and inclusive health plans, we are not only improving access to quality care but also setting new benchmarks for service excellence within the industry. This recognition reflects the trust our customers place in us and the unwavering dedication of our team and partners who make our vision a reality every day.”
Alli added, “We will continue to scale our hospital partnerships, enhance claims transparency, and leverage technology to deliver even more accessible, affordable, and customer-centric healthcare solutions. This award strengthens our resolve to be at the forefront of Nigeria’s health transformation journey—driving meaningful change, one life at a time.”
Leadway Health HMO’s triple win comes at a time when trust and performance in the HMO sector are under scrutiny. With a growing population, rising healthcare costs, and a national goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, the company’s performance positions it as a crucial stakeholder in driving Nigeria’s health transformation agenda.
The Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards, founded in 2014 by Global Health Project and Resources in collaboration with Anadach Group USA, is the industry’s most respected recognition platform. This year’s edition was themed “Collaborating for Impact: Strengthening Health Systems through the SWAP Approach”, emphasising unified efforts to drive change.

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NAICOM Charges Operators To Ignite Nationwide Conversation About Power Of Insurance

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The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has enjoined insurance operators to ensure that they ignite a nationwide conversation about the power of insurance as the inaugural edition of Insurance Week holds across the country.

The Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of NAICOM, Olusegun Omosehin who spoke in Lagos on Monday, affirmed that the Insurance Week is designed to raise national awareness about the vital role of insurance in Nigeria’s growth and development.

To truly secure Nigeria’s future, he pointed out that “we must educate the public on the benefits of insurance, develop products that meet the needs of all Nigerians, wnsure prompt and transparent claims processing, as well as invest in talent and technology to drive innovation and trust.

At NAICOM, he said the regulatory body is committed to building a strong, inclusive, and globally respected insurance industry, and has been driving reforms to strengthen consumer protection, promote digital innovation, ensure capital adequacy and sound governance, while expanding access to underserved communities.

On why insurance matters, he stated that “In today’s fast-changing world, risks are everywhere—economic shocks, natural disasters, health crises, and more” adding that these uncertainties can disrupt lives and derail national progress.

“Insurance is our shield. It helps individuals, businesses, and governments manage these risks, recover from losses, and build resilience.
Without insurance, your economy would be more vulnerable, and our people less secure. That’s why this year’s theme, “Insurance for All: Securing Nigeria’s Future,” is both timely and essential” he emphasised.

Omosehin maintained that “The future of Nigeria depends on how well we manage risk. Every decision—whether by individuals, businesses, or government—carries uncertainty. Insurance provides the tools to navigate these uncertainties and protect our collective future.”

The NAICOM boss further urged the nsurance operators to renew their commitment to building an industry that serves the people and supports national development and use every platform—media, schools, communities, and workplaces—to spread the message that insurance is not a luxury; but a necessity.

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Gambian Delegation Visits NAICOM To Understudy Regulatory Approach

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L-R Nyang Madeleine Gomez, Compliance Officer, Central Bank of Gambia, Dr. Usman Jankara, NAICOM Deputy Commissioner, Technical, Drammeh Alieu, Senior Insurance Compliance Officer, Central Bank of Gambia and Mr. Ekerete Ola Gam-Ikon, NAICOM Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration, when the Gambian delegation visited NAICOM in Abuja on Monday.

By Sola Alabadan

A delegation from the Central Bank of The Gambia, led by Mr. Nyang Medeleine Gomez, paid a working visit to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on Monday in Abuja, with the aim of fostering regulatory collaboration and exchanging knowledge in key areas of insurance supervision.

The primary focus of the visit was to study Nigeria’s regulatory approach in three critical areas:

*Risk-Based Supervision
*Prudential Frameworks
*Inclusive Insurance

The delegation was received by the Deputy Commissioner for Technical, Dr. Usman Jankara, and the Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration, on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Omosehin,
Mr. Ekerete Ola Gam-Ikon expressed NAICOM’s readiness for collaboration and mutual learning.
He described the engagement as a “knowledge-sharing visit,” noting that “no one regulator has all the answers,” and emphasized the importance of peer-to-peer learning in enhancing regulatory capacity across Africa.

In his remarks, Mr. Gomez explained that the visit was intended to:

* Understanding NAICOM’s implementation of a risk-based supervisory system to ensure a stable and resilient insurance sector

* Exploring strategies for expanding insurance access to underserved and low-income populations through inclusive insurance frameworks; and

* Learn best practices in prudential regulation to safeguard policyholders’ interests and uphold public confidence in the insurance market.

In his response, Dr. Jankara reaffirmed NAICOM’s commitment to supporting the Gambian delegation across all areas of interest.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s regulatory framework has evolved significantly, especially in corporate governance, where the Commission has moved from basic compliance to robust enforcement mechanisms.
He further noted that the newly passed Insurance Regulatory Bill, once it receives presidential assent, will contribute meaningfully to the current administration’s goal of achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy.

Dr. Jankara also highlighted NAICOM’s progress in promoting financial inclusion, citing the successful licensing of 15 microinsurance companies and 6 Takaful insurance providers, milestones that reflect growing insurance penetration. He assured the visiting delegation that NAICOM would share its operational templates and regulatory manuals through the appropriate directorates, while continuing engagement with key departments, including Inspectorate, Supervision, and Innovation & Regulation.

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