THE ROLE OF NATIONAL INSURANCE COMMISSION (NAICOM) IN THE PROMOTION OF NIGERIA INSURANCE MARKET OPPORTUNITY

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY The contribution of insurance to economic growth is huge and unlimited. Insurance is of great importance to a modern society and in fact, economic growth is characterized by the soundness of a nations insurance market. Insurance promotes financial stability and reduces anxiety; it can substitute for government security programmes, facilitates trade and commerce; mobilizes saves; enables risk to be managed more efficiently; encourages loss mitigation and fosters a more efficient capital allocation. The Nigerian insurance market presents vast opportunities for citizens, the industry, the financial services sector and the economy. But the market is not efficient, lacks capacity of consumers trust, expert say the net effect is that it does not grow and no meaningful contribution to the macro-economic indicators. The insurance gap in Nigeria is presently put at 94 percent which implies that less tham 10 percent of Nigerians have any forms of insurance. The wide gap is attributable to public inertia and apathy. The insurance density on the other hand is put at N875,00, this means that Nigerians on the average spend les spend less than N1,000 annul on insurance presently, the total industry income is about N170 billion. According to NAICOM, for the set target to be achieved, the insurance gap must be lowered to a minimum of 70 percent, with 2012 as the target data. Globally, the world insured premium income from 2006-2008 as presented by sigma publication shows that life insurance has contributed more premiums, an average of 58.86 percent than non-life business an average of 41.14%. However the reverse is the case in Nigeria which contributes 17.90 percent for life as against 82.10 percent for non-life. Nevertheless conscious efforts were made by successive government and the regulation to improve the insurance market over the years “one of such effect was the market consolidation exercise that started in 2005 culminating in increase of industry’s minimum capital requirements. With this the research focused on the insurance industry market the problems prospect and the role of the national insurance commission in promoting insurance market in Nigeria. 1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 1.   Low level of regulatory compliance by the insurance practitioners and the insuring public. 2.   Absence of new products and poor image of the industry. 3.   Government policy inconsistency and weak regulatory measures. 4.   Delayed settlement of genuine claims and delays remittance of premium by intermediaries. 1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1.   To ascertain the role of the national insurance commission ion promoting insurance market in Nigeria. 2.   To identify the problem and challenges hindering effective and efficient marketing of insurance product in Nigeria. 3.   To examine the impact of recapitalization on the insurance industry with regard to market expansion and penetration. 4.   To find out the contribution of the insurance industry to the growth and development to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy. 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ·         What is the functions of NAICOM in the insurance industry? ·         What percent share have the insurance industry in the marketing environment? ·         What are the challenges facing the insurance industry in the marketing of their product? 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The significance of this study is bedded on the stated objective. The research work is aimed at encouraging the insurance industry on engaging in professional practice and also ensure that the national insurance commission identify their roles as stated in the decree 997 which established the commission. The research work is also of important to the students as it will serve as a point of reference to those of them who want/desire that to carry out research on similar topic also the government and its agencies will be a benefactor of this research work as the outcome of it will expose the opportunities that are yet untapped by the insurance industry in the economy because of government policy in consistency. 1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY The research work covered the role of National Insurance Commission (NAICON) in the promotion of Nigeria insurance market opportunities. The research examines the functions of the national insurance commission the power of the commission, organizational structure and the programmes put in place by the commission to ensure the actualization of the federal government vision 20:2020. In the course of carrying out this research work, the researcher encounter some challenges ranging from paucity of funds, to denial of access to confidential information and data Also, time inadequacy was also one of the constraints encountered by the researcher in the course of carrying out the research work. 1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS Agency: A situation that arises when a party (called the principal) appoints another (called the agent) to act for him (the principal) in doing a thing or things which the principal should do, but which he may not, by reason of circumstance be disposed to do them. Easement: A right of way over another’s property. Indemnity: An agreement by one party to make good the losses suffering by another, usefully by payment of money, repair, replacement or reinstatement in an insurance contract. Inertia Selling: A form of selling in which unrequested goods are sent to a potential customers on a sale-or-return basis. Insurance: A legal contract in which an insurer promises to pay a specified amount to another party, the insured, if a particular even happens and the insured financial loss as a result. Market: The demand for a particular product or services often measured by sales during a specified period. Premium: The consideration payable for a contract of insurance. Promotion: An activity designed to boost the sales of a product or service. It includes, advertising, personal selling, sale promotion and publicity. Rebates: A discount offered on the price of a good service, often one that is paid back to the payer. Solvency: The financial states of a person or company that is able to pay all debts as they fall due. Unvalued Policy: An insurance policy for property that has a sum insured shown for each item although the insurers do not acknowledge that this figure is actual value.