THE IMPORTANCE AND ROLES OF INSURANCE INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA ECONOMY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Insurance industry is a very vital aspect of Nigeria economy and its importance and roles can not be overemphasized. In this project work the researcher want to identify the history of insurance industry in the Nigeria economy and also the actual roles and the importance of insurance industry to the common man and the society at large. such roles importance include in every sector  of the economy, like, the banking sector, Agricultural/Sector, aviation sector, Business sector etc. the research work also treated the types of insurance industry in Nigeria, here the researcher compared it with the types operated overseas and the method used to the standard. Also the project work, focused on the problem encountered by the industry and all the necessary measures that can be used to improve Nigeria insurance up to the worlds standard.

       The development of insurance industry, in Nigeria has passed through three distinguishable phase; the initial often door phase, roughly between 1990 and 1960, the transitional phase which concludes with the first national development plan period, 1962 – 1969 and the take off phase (1990 to the present times) witness the toughening of the framework of government regulation and represent a radical change in governments attitude towards the control the industry, there was when the insurance market were dominated with European compaine who monopolies the insurance industry, during this early period, a number of factors did not ensure an active market. Economic activity is at low level, there was  no insurance consciousness by the populace, due to non–existence of some legislation, like that of motor vehicle and other things, it made Nigeria market to grow in a low peace and also the third world war hindered the growth of the market.

       After the war, Nigeria experienced a lot of improvement, and after that was the introduction of worker’s compensation act 1940 and the road traffic act 1945 which came into force on 1^st April 1950. Due to the increase in insurance industry in Nigeria.

This was after Nigeria had their, independent there was a rapid increase in the number of company established and an increase in insurance industry and some of the foreign companies were turned to indigenous companies. The first step was to regulate the operations of the insurance companies to ensure a sound and efficiency insurance market, which would not only discharge its duties to members of the insuring public but would constitute the solid foundation for future growth and development. It was also discovered that some of the insurance companies are not investing in Nigeria, because there was no provision in the law. This leads to the Act of 1964 which states that any insurer should invest Two – Fifth its premium in Nigeria.

       As Nigeria insurance industry increase; it was discovered that it is operated by some in experience people, and led to problem and the government arrested the situation by appointing.

       Dr. Karl Reichel in October 1996 a united Nations expert the most far reaching action of government, which improves insurance business in Nigeria was the establishment of the National insurance corporation of Nigeria (NICON) in 1 July, 1969. In June 1970 the Post of the superintendent and deputy supper intendance was credited. This phase experience increase in adoption of direct mechanism, a charging situation which was the inevitable result of the growing belief that effective control of the economy must necessarily accomplish the achievement of political independence.

       This was where all the problems and weakness in the previous stages was corrected, and the government had control or exclusive public ownership of very strategic industries. The policy of the federal military government to participate in a number of key industries was formulated and implemented. They set up their owned enterprises. The government also helped in the promotion supervision and control of insurance industry in other to protect the investing public.

       One of the recent developments is the creation of reinsurance, which was mainly operated by Europeans and others and also the lunch of the National health insurance Scheme (NHIS) by president Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR on 29^th May 2005). The present stage has thus exhibited the features of the “take of phase”, the market is greatly boosted by legislative provision for compulsory insurance, set owned industries dot the industrial map of the company, again with the indirect effect of boosting the insurance business new legislation is passed with a view to indulgencing the insurance industry and providing a strong financial base for the companies and ensuring a high standard of insurance practice in Nigeria.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

In this section the researcher focused on the prevalence problem that has led to the insurance industries in Nigeria not performing so well. These problems militating against the insurance industries roles in Nigeria economy are as follows:-

1.  Ignorance in the part of the members of the public

2.  To a certain extent, lack of expert in the field.

3.  Poor infrastructures and information technology

4.  Limited number of insurance company with a maximum capacity to sustain heavy loses.

5.  Lack of information

6.  Non –compliance/disclosure of materials fact by the subscribing public to the insurance company.

7.  Poor management of existing insurance industry

8.  Poor liquidity in the some insurance industries.

1.3     OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives that made the researcher to go into this topic are as follows:

i.            To find out the major roles and importance of insurance industry in Nigeria economy.

ii.           To find out a way to increase the roles to the standard in the world today.

iii.         To find out if there are possible approach, which can be used to eliminate the poor standard of insurance services in Nigeria.

iv.         To bring to the knowledge of the public the importance of insurance industry in the economy.

v.          To make suggestion and recommendations that could be useful in solving the identified problems.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTION

1.  What are the importance of insurance industry in Nigeria economy

2.  Do insurance company provide claim settlement in accordance with the law and terms of relevant insurance policy?

3.  What roles do insurance company play in the Nigeria economy?

1.5     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY OPERATION

This study is meant to highlight the importance and roles of insurance industry in Nigeria economy. Insurance not only helps in reducing the burden on the public but reducing claims fluctuation. Insurance industry plays a vital role in Nigeria economy by momentum to the nation economic of the country.

The obvious contribution to the nation economy well-being in area of Job opportunities, source of finance for government, public and private sector of the economy makes the study of paramount importance.

1.6     SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY  

In a study of this nature, one would like to gather/accumulate data from many areas, and due to the importance of insurance industry in Nigeria economy. The researcher choice to consider  the run down of the roles and importance of the industry to the whole economy in the country. Therefore, the scope of the study is limited to south East of the country.

Besides, there were many other problems tamed up during the research work in which some of them are as follows:

i.            TIME CONSTANT

The time at any disposal as a student to carry out this topic is extremely short, couple with other academic commitments.

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