NAICOM To Assist CISWAWZ Boosts Risk Supervision In West Africa

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has offered to assist member states of the College of Insurance Supervisors for the West African Monetary Zone (CISWAWZ) in developing their Risk-Based Supervision (RBS) framework.

The Commission said the establishment of the CISWAMZ set the pace for the insurance industry in West Africa.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Sunday Thomas, who spoke at the 2nd meeting of the College in Abuja, said the coming in of the (CISWAMZ) was based on the recognition of member states that co-ordination of supervisory effort and sharing of information of supervised entities is important in carrying out efficient consolidated supervision, maintaining effective oversight, promoting compliance with extant laws and maintaining the highest level of oversight quality while carrying out their supervisory responsibilities in their respective Countries.

Thomas who is also Chairman of the West Africa Insurance Supervisors Association (WAISA), urged the College to develop a process of documentation that gives priority to how proceedings are documented, noting that it will be a reference point for improved supervisory activities in the region.

According to him, given that the world is becoming a global village with the development of information technology and the inter global dynamic of business/organisation risks, the need for regional cooperation cannot be overemphasized.

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), Thomas said, has provided a forum for members to share their experiences and understanding of Insurance supervisory and insurance markets.

The WAISA chairman said their experiences and practices led to the development of 26 Insurance Core Principles (ICP) and two of the principles centred on regional and international cooperation.

“The ICP 25 is on Supervisory Co-operation and Co-ordination (Sectorial, Regional and inter-regional) while ICP 26 is on Cross Border Cooperation and co-ordination on Crisis Management,” WAISA Chairman explained.

He informed that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) created in 1939 is an inter-governmental body whose purpose is to develop and promote National and International policies to combat Money Laundering and Terrorist Finance.

“The anti-money laundering body has developed 40 Recommendations and 11 Effective Outcomes and there is no country that can achieve any reasonable progress in its effectiveness without actively belonging /or Co-operating with other Countries / regional bodies in the implementation of their policies”.

Continuing he stated, “Therefore, what the region has done is a good step in the right direction to forge synergy between/among us for the goal of effective and efficient regulation and Supervision of Insurance institutions in our region.”

Also, the Chairman CISWAMZ in his remarks at the occasion assured West African Countries of CISWAMZ’s readiness to assist them in developing their Risk-Based Supervision (RBS) framework, and RBS manual as well as ensure adequate knowledge sharing.

He affirmed that Nigeria would be glad to share the RBS Framework for Insurers and Reinsurers in Nigeria with member states.

Agboola, who doubles as NAICOM’s Director, Inspectorate Directorate, said the hosting of the Regional RBS by NAICOM and Toronto Centre, Canada in February 2022 has enriched the commission’s understanding of Risk-Based Supervision and Risk-Based Capital.