Leave a comment and share
The task of getting a competent Director General who would oversee the day-to-day activities of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) seemed to be taking sleep from the eyes of council members of the underwriters body. Chuks Udo Okonta, in this report, examines how the appointment would impact operations and projections of the insurance industry.
The appointment of the former Director-General of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Sunday Thomas, as Deputy Commissioner Technical, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has created a wide gulf, that should be bridged with an appointment of competent individual, who should be able to consolidate the achievements recorded in recent times and take the industry to lofty heights.
Since the announcement of appointment of Mr Thomas, industry observers have being waiting and watching with keen attention to hear who will be appointed to wear the big shoes he left in the association.
Just recently, it was reported that the NIA council members are projecting an individual to assume the position. As the news suffused, many concerned stakeholders, who are not comfortable with individual being projected went to town to express their misgivings on why he should not be appointed into the most reverenced position.
Some of the observers believed the individual being projected lacked the candour to galvanise the industry operators, especially the Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers, who are considered to belong to a top class, and could only fellow with a director general who should be of a higher class.
According to an operator who pleaded not to be named, the council, has a herculean task in choosing the right person for the exalted position. He noted that the choice made by the council would either make or mar the association, stressing that it would be difficult for a misfit to coordinate the highly sophisticated top executives of companies in the association.
Another observed, raised concern over the proposed office building that the association plans to construct. According to him, the association needs an individual who should be able to relate with the top executives and prominent individuals outside the industry to ensure the building and other projects are achieved as planned.
He also remarked that the peaceful work environment left by Thomas, should be sustained, adding that the appointment of an individual who would come to alter the structure negatively would be a big draw back for the association.
On relationship with other arms of the industry, observers called for improvement on the level of relationship already laid by the outgone director general. They lauded, Thomas’ humane response to issues in the industry, and called for the appointment of an individual who will further cement the relationship presently existing amongst the various arms of the industry.
The observers urged the council members never to politicalised the appointment of the director general, stressing that the future of the association rests on their decision.
One Comment