Adeosun says insurance sector denying economy 1.5 % GDP growth yearly
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, lamented on Monday that the under-performance of the insurance sector was denying the country an annual 1.5 per cent increment in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Adeosun made the announcement at the 2016 National Insurance Conference (NIC), taking place in Abuja.She said the persistent under-performance of the sector was revealed during the 2014 Insurance Summit.
According to Adeosun, there is need to immediately address the issues responsible for the under-performance “because a 0. 33 per cent increase in insurance penetration can result to a growth of 0.5 per cent in GDP.
The minister said that the increment was capable of creating over 70,000 jobs annually.The News of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is: “Expanding National Resources and Infrastructure in Challenging Times”.
Adeosun argued that the industry was under-performing, compared to its pension and banking counterparts.
She identified low awareness as one of the factors responsible for the under-performance of the sector, pointing out that out of 57 insurance companies in the country, less than 23 advertised their products.
“The companies put in less than 20 adverts on television, less than 10 adverts on radio and less than 10 adverts on social media.“Other factors include poor distribution channels and unethical practices among operators.
“I’m working vigorously with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to ensure that premium discounting is eliminated among practitioners,” she stated.
The minister said there was need for recapitalisation of most insurance companies.
“The first top three banks have over N3 billion capital base each while the top three insurance companies’ capital base is between N20 and 25 million each.”
The Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, commended the Insurance Industry Consultative Council for organising the conference to reposition the industry.
Kari pledged NAICOM’s commitment to making the industry the next growth area for economic development.
Over 200 insurance practitioners are attending the three-day conference.
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2 Comments
so what are you doing about it. In most developed country, there are certain things that government mandate to have insurance, vehicles, houses, factories, real estate development etc. The Nigeria government should begin with mandating some of these areas have insurance.
“The Minister in her opening remarks at the National Insurance Conference
in Abuja, explained that a developed and active insurance market would
bring about increase in GDP, accumulation of long-term funds for
infrastructural financing, job creation, and an improved standard of
living. She added that the development would also attract foreign
investment into our country.”
We will review and take appropriate action.