House of Reps demand probe into N30bn unsettled insurance claims for Nigerian Police, others – Crime Channels
House of Reps demand probe into N30bn unsettled insurance claims for Nigerian Police, others
The House of Representatives on Wednesday charged its Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters to conduct a forensic investigation into over N30 billion in unsettled insurance claims tied to the Nigeria Police Force, the Head of Service, and the Ministry of Defence.
The House noted that the unsettled claims were a result of failures in actuarial valuation, gap analysis, and non-compliance with Section 57 of the Insurance Act, 2023, and Section 4, Subsection 5 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, among others.
The resolution of the House according to PUNCH was a sequel to the adoption of a motion titled, “Breaches and Other Infractions of some Federal Government Institutions on Insurance and Actuarial Matters using Forensic Auditors” moved by the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, Mr Sulaiman Gumi.
Speaking in favour of the motion, Gumi noted that while conventional insurance is struggling with outdated insurance laws, there is a dearth of professional loss adjusters and irregular payment of loss adjusters fees, non-remittance of premiums, especially to reinsurers, lack of innovation and inconsistent government policies within the insurance industry.
He also identified the failure to collaborate effectively with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Assets Management Company of Nigeria to secure financial stability in the Nigerian economy and the cumbersome process of failure resolution and reimbursement of depositors, as some of the challenges facing the industry.
He said, “The House is concerned that non-transparency and lack of accountability in insurance practice in Nigeria today have resulted in over N30bn unsettled claims in the group life insurances of the Nigeria Police Force, Head of Service (for Federal Civil Servants), and Ministry of Defence (for the Nigerian Armed Forces) because of no actuarial valuation, no gap analysis, and non-compliance with Section 57 of the Insurance Act, 2023, and Section 4, Subsection 5 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, among other factors.
“We are aware that over $1bn that should have been retained in Nigeria if all insurance practitioners are given the option of the right of first refusal (insurance being more about risk bearing and sharing) is being taken abroad, which affects the nation’s economy, thereby always weakening our insurance sector and depleting our foreign reserve.
