President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Kayode Okunoren decorating the Executive Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola with NCRIB Fellowship Award during a courtesy visit of NCRIB team to Osun State Government Office to mark the commencement of 2016 CEOs Retreat.
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has charged members and leadership of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) to deploy its resources in facilitating quick recovery of Nigeria’s economy.
Aregbesola also tasked the professional body to workout a modality capable of rescuing Nigerian government out of the present economic imbroglio.
Governor Aregbesola gave the charge while playing a host on the national delegation of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) who were on a courtesy call to his office, at Government Secretariat, Osogbo.
Governor Aregbesola who lamented over the worsen state of the nation’s economy, however, suggested that one of the ways to liberate Nigeria and Nigerians from the scourge of the present economic disaster was for the professional bodies to institutionalize strategies and as well map-out realistic economic policies to mitigate the situation.
Aregbesola who decried over the mono-economic nature of Nigeria’s economy, said all hands must be on deck to find possible solutions to the nation’s socioeconomic, political and cultural tribulations.
He attributed some of the challenges facing the country to what he regarded as over-reliance on crude oil, saying if the successive governments had brilliantly diversified the economy, Nigeria would not have suffered from the present economic calamity.
The Governor who reiterated that the nation is going through a tough economic situation, called on the members and leadership of (NCRIB) to come to the aid of the nation especially in rescuing over 27 states of the federation who are presently facing challenges in the payment of salary arrears.
Aregbesola who advocated creativity and innovation as an antidote to the nation’s economic woes, revealed that changing of the nation’s economy drastically from what it was before was as a result of poor leadership.
He said the economy of the nation would have grown if the successive administrations did not lack productive-economic direction and vision over the years.
Governor Aregbesola who said the nation is at economic war, stressed that the present economic situation was even worst than the civil war being experienced some years back in Nigeria.
He called on the body to urgently intensify plans capable of strengthening it relationship with government and as well facilitating better economic condition for Nigerian people.
Aregbesola who contented that there were little creativity and innovation in governance in the past, said the present economic situation remains a clarion call that must be obeyed by all.
The Governor charged the council to go back to the drawing board and come up with fantastic and sustainable policies that would support the revival of the nation’s economy.
Aregbesola however said in spite the fact that the nation is battling with unusual economic period, yet the professional bodies whose expertise would have been deployed to cushion the effects failed to intervene in the nation’s economic woes.
He said the nation can no longer be traditional, just as the present economic situation calls for different approaches, affirming that insurance company can really come to bailout Nigeria by forming a modality to do so.
Governor said except Lagos State, no other state government can boast of meeting its workers’ salary obligations and pensions, therefore charged the council to wade into rescuing the affected states through its expertise.
Aregbesola also said there is a need at this special economic period for the leadership of (NCRIB) to reflect on how to contribute tremendously towards the recovery, revival, stimulation and rejuvenation of the nation’s economy.
According to him, “one of the ways your professional body can really be of help is to urgently intervene in the present economic situation.
“I am worry about the present economic situation in Nigeria because the professional bodies who expertise would have been intellectually deployed to rescue the nation are shying away from such responsibility.
“Though the present economic situation is no more a news, but one of the realistic ways to rescue the nation is for your council to go back to the drawing board and formulate workable policies to liberate the nation.
“The baglog of workers’ salaries being owed by some states could have been better relieved by your council if you have worked out a way of providing a long-term bond to the states.
“In assisting our economy on quick recovery, your council can for instance prepare a bond that would go a long way in rescuing some states who are presently being tormented with cash crunch in the payment of workers’ salary arrears and pensions.
“To me I believe that there is no other nation to call our own except Nigeria, therefore let us workout strategies to salvage our nation’s economy because time has come for us to rise to the occasion on the need to revive our battered economy with extreme sincerity and genuinety”, Aregbesola stated.
Earlier, the President Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Emmanuel Kayode Okunoren commended Governor Aregbesola for living up to the expectation in both human and infrastructural developments.
He lauded the state government on its giant strides in all sectors of the economy, stressing that Osun government has proven its weights as a model by all ramifications.
Mr. Okunoren who identified with the government on the effect of the present economic realities, however applauded Governor Aregbesola for prudently and judiciously managing the meagre resources of the state for the betterment of her citizens.
He confirmed that the presence of the national team of the council has attested to the greater performances of the present administration most especially on the infrastructural development.
Mr. Okunoren noted that the choice of Osun for the council’s retreat was a clear manifestation to the peaceful nature of the state, adding that the national leadership of the body has had several programmes in the state over the times.
He said, “We chose Osun for our retreat so as appreciate the good works of the current government and as well further entrench our relationship with the state.
“We have been holding several programmes in this state because of its peaceful nature and the strength of its economic growth.
“Our council has seen the need to continuously relate to government because in real sense, government remains the largest institution being relevant to our profession.
Mr. Okunoren who said insurance brokers are the interface between the insurance and the insured, said the body was ready to add much values to the state’s economy.
He therefore called for a mutually-beneficial relationship between the council and the state government.
– By Waheed Adekunle, Osogbo
Osun Defender
