Kaduna – The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) on Friday urged the Kaduna State Government to enforce compliance with relevant laws on insurance, to deepen insurance culture in the state.
The State Chairman of the institute, Mr Ogunsanya Tolulope made the appeal in Kaduna during a courtesy visit on the state Commissioner of Finance, Malam Suleiman Kwari.
Tolulope said it was necessary to enforce compliance with the law especially in getting insurance cover for buildings, markets and other public places.
According to him, the National Insurance Commission Act, 1997 and the Insurance Act, 2003 provides a blueprint for insurance regulation in Nigeria.
He noted that although the laws provided 16 insurance products, only five were subscribed to by most Nigerians.
He listed the five to include builders’ liability insurance; motor vehicle third party insurance; occupiers’ liability insurance; health care professional indemnity and statutory group life insurance.
The chairman said government must compel people to access other insurance products, noting that only the third party motor insurance and the group life insurance were being accessed in the state.
He said that it was mandatory on anyone building a two storey structure to insure the property.
“The institute is requesting the government to direct State Urban Planning and Development Authority to assist in enforcing this aspect, by making sure that builders’ liability insurance forms part of the requirements for granting planning permit.
“Similarly, Section 65 (1) makes sit compulsory for every public building to be insured against the hazard of collapse, fire, earthquakes storm or flood.
“In this area, the institute solicits that the state government should mandate the state Fire Service to make insurance of public buildings one of the conditions for the issuance of fire safety compliance certificate to occupier or owners, “he said.
He also recommended that all markets and shops where goods are openly sold be insured in compliance with the Act.
“Government can insure the buildings in the market if it owns them, while individual occupiers insure their goods. The institute is willing to offer free consultancy in this area”.
The chairman advised the government to insure its school feeding programme against financial losses in case of defect or contamination in any food, fruit or drink supplied to pupils.
Responding, Kwari, who was represented by ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Idris Nyam thanked the institute for the visit and their offer of partnership.
He said that the current government takes insurance issues seriously, adding that the ministry would review the proposal and act appropriately. (NAN)
