By Sola Alabadan
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has issued three new guidelines to ensure operators are professional in the conduct of their businesses in line with best practices.
They are: Insurance Regulatory Sandbox Operational Guideline, Market Conduct Guidelines for Takaful and Retakaful Insurance Operators, and Enterprise Risk Management Framework for Takaful and Retakaful Operators in Nigeria.
Disclosing this on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance, Head of Corporate Communication and Market Development at NAICOM, ‘Rasaaq ‘Salami, said the Commission expects all operators to ensure compliance with the new guidelines to the benefit of all stakeholders.
Insurance Regulatory Sandbox Operational Guidelines provide insurance institutions, other firms and persons the opportunity to test business
models, products and services that will enhance efficiency in meeting consumers’ needs,
It is also designed to encourage innovation that will drive financial inclusion and positive competition, as well as to promote and deliver economic benefits, by lowering the cost of business operations.
Enterprise Risk Management
Framework For Takaful And
Retakaful Operators is designed to articulate principles that may be
applied to a variety of circumstances, and does not prescribe specific
quantitative standards. This is taking into consideration the differences in the environments in which different Takaful Insurance Operators operate, as well as the differences in
their Operational Frameworks.
The principles and recommendations set forth in the Guideline are intended to help understand the risks to which a Takaful Undertaking is exposed by providing minimum standards for the development of a Risk Management Framework for ease of Management of the Takaful Undertaking and Supervision by its Governing bodies and Supervisory
Authorities.
It is equally aimed at helping to create a safe and prudent environment for the growth, sustainability and development of the Takaful industry.
Market Conduct Guidelines For Takaful & Retakaful Insurance Operators sets out minimum standards required from Takaful Insurance Operators in their dealings with Participants/Policyholders, Shareholders and other Stakeholders.
While promoting greater fairness and transparency between Participants/Policyholders and
Takaful Insurance Operators, it is also intended to establish strong Market Conduct and Business Practice amongst the Practitioners/Stakeholders and enhance mutual confidence for Market efficiency.
It further highlights the general licensing and authorization requirements for Takaful Insurance Operators and Intermediaries, as well as state the responsibility of Takaful Insurance Operators in ensuring that their activities are properly coordinated and on carried out in a professional manner.
The guidelines provide principles to ensure that customers are treated fairly, prior to the inception and discharge of the contract, while also providing the Board of Directors and Management of Takaful Insurance Operators with a framework for the establishment of policies and procedures for effective Takaful operations.
