The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has put structures in place to ensure that the insurance policyholders are adequately protected and facilitate improved confidence in the Nigerian insurance sector.
This formed part of NAICOM’s strategic plan for 2021-2023, which was unveiled at the just concluded 2021 NAICOM seminar for insurance journalists in Lagos.
The Commissioner for Insurance, Sunday Thomas, said “The 2021-2023 Strategic Plan has five goals designed to entrench effective and efficient service delivery, ensure safe, sound and stable insurance sector, adequately protect policyholders and public interest, improve trust and confidence in the insurance sector and encourage innovation and promote insurance market development”.
The NAICOM boss informed that since the development of the last strategic plan for the period 2016 – 2020, there have been various events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the End SARS protests, and the rise in kidnappings, armed banditry, communal tensions and conflicts, which have impacted on the activities and initiatives of the Commission.
These new developments, he stated, have ushered in the new normal, hence shaping how the industry conducts its business going forward and the corresponding regulatory response.
“The major thrust of this has been preparing the workforce for the new work order, protection of policyholders, improving human capital, leveraging on technology and alternative channels of insurance distribution to stimulate productivity.
Thomas stressed that the commission is committed to actualising the goals of the strategic plan, noting that NAICOM would adhere strictly to its principles of good governance and core values aimed at creating an enduring, sustainable and conducive environment for accomplishment of the corporate goals and objectives.
He also said that NAICOM will ensure periodic review and performance monitoring of the plan within its life span, bearing in mind the present COVID-19 pandemic.
The insurance sector, he added, must harness opportunities post pandemic period and beyond by leveraging on technology to provide innovative insurance products, amongst others things.
Speaking at the unveiling, Mr Usman Ibrahim Jankara, Head, Strategy and Special Duties, who delivered a paper titled: ‘NAICOM Corporate Strategic Plan 2021 to 2023: Goals, Objectives and Key Deliverables” emphasised that the strategic plan was hinged on five goals, including entrenching effective and efficient service delivery, ensuring safe, sound and stable insurance sector, adequately protecting the policyholders and public interest, improve trust and confidence in the insurance sector, encourage innovation and promote insurance market development.
He pointed out that these goals will consolidate the 2016 -2020 strategic plan with new milestones required to enable the commission accomplish its mission.
Jankara equally lamented that some of the commission’s 2016 to 2020 strategic plans were not achieved due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors.
“Our strategic plan has simplified what we will focus on and we are now more convinced that we will do much better this year.
“We want to have a stable insurance industry to compete globally and contribute to the country’s economy.”
He said the plan would also ensure that policyholders’ complaints were handled better and promptly.