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NAICOM to unlock industry potentials with new MicroInsurance guidelines     

By Bankole Orimisan
22 January 2018   |   4:16 am
In a dramatic move to deepen nationwide insurance awareness, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has released Guidelines for Micro Insurance operation that would guide operators in the sector.

…Warns operators to abide by law
In a dramatic move to deepen nationwide insurance awareness, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has released Guidelines for Micro Insurance operation that would guide operators in the sector.

The guidelines, which came after many years of waiting, NAICOM stressed that would establishes uniform set of rules, regulations and standards for conduct of micro insurance business across Nigeria from January 1st, 2018.

In a letter by the commission to all heads of trade associations and all Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers of insurance companies operating in Nigeria, described that the release of the revised microInsurance guidelines 2018, constitute part of the Commission’s determination to improve financial inclusion in Nigeria, particularly to the underserved and excluded segment of the populace.

In a statement to insurance industry operators, NAICOM said: “In exercise of the powers conferred by the National Insurance Commission Act 1997 and the Insurance Act 2003, the National Insurance Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) hereby have the authority to regulate and ensure that standards are maintained in the industry.

Part of the guidelines reads: “No person shall commence or carry on any class of Microinsurance business without being registered or authorised by the commission. This Guidelines, supersedes all other microinsurance guidelines and shall take effect from  January 1st, 2018”.

According to the commission, the objectives of the guidelines is to provide minimum standards for the conduct of Microinsurance business in Nigeria and also ensure that consumers are protected with the operators, establish general features of Microinsurance, establish duties and responsibilities of Microinsurance operators and insurance intermediaries as well as establish conditions for entry and exit from the Microinsurance market.

The commission, defined Microinsurance as insurance developed for low income populations, low valued policies, micro and small scale enterprises provided by licensed institutions, run in accordance with generally accepted insurance principles, and funded by premiums, in relation to cost, terms an coverage delivery mechanism.

The commission, noted that the sum insured under a Microinsurance policy(ies) shall not be more than N2,OOO,OOO per person per insurer.

However, the Commission may review this provision subject to the nature of the low income earners.

Microinsurance policies shall exclude special risks insurance, motor insurance (except tricycles and motorcycles), professional indemnity and other pecuniary risks with sum insured higher than N2,OOO, 000

“Third party liability risks and all other classes of risks with sum insured above N2,OOO,OOO are also excluded, all compulsory insurances on third party liability risks excluded from microinsurance”, the commission stated.

The features of Microinsurance operation, saying
it should be simple in nature, its policies, conditions, procedures and marketing must be simple and the documentation must be presented in plain language.

The products/services risk, procedures and coverage must be unambiguous and easily understood,  Microinsurance products must be affordable and accessible to the target market in terms of purchase, premium payments and claims.

The products or services shall be designed to meet the needs of customers, be beneficial, fair in price and coverage just as the delivery/distribution channels must be efficient to both the insurer and the policyholders.

The commission, in the guidelines said the Microinsurance underwriters are classified into  unit, state and  national operators.

On the distribution channels, NAICOM, said all eligible distributors may be utilised to reach potential Microinsurance Consumers upon the grant of license by the commission.

NAICON disclosed that all licensed insurance brokers/loss-adjusters by the commission are qualified to provide insurance broking/loss adjustment services for microinsurance operators.

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