ILAN President warns members against unethical practices
President, Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN), Femi Hassan
President, Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN), Femi Hassan, has warned practicing Loss Adjusters to desist from actions that may bring the Institute to disrepute.
Hassan who gave the warning recently at the Institute’s 36th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in the institute’s secretariat in Lagos, said the allusion of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the industry’s regulatory authority to the existence of unethical practice and poor quality of reports and desktop adjusting by ILAN members is worrisome.
According to him, “Since my election as your 11th President, I have been confronted with quite a number of disturbing information about our members who are involved in unwholesome dealings; though no names were yet mentioned, the allusion of NAICOM to the existence of unethical practice and poor quality of reports and desktop adjusting by our members is worrisome.”
“May I, therefore advised members to desist from actions that may bring our Institute into disrepute,” he added.
He said the Institute will stop at nothing to ensure that every erring Loss Adjusters found culpable are sanctioned accordingly.
Hassan said the Investigation and Discipline Committee set up to look into complaints of infractions by some members received by the Institute has concluded its report and in line with their recommendations and after honest deliberation by the Council found one of the Loss Adjusting firms (name withheld) to have exhibited some unethical conduct in the course of the assignment they were assigned and have been penalized accordingly.
He said the adjusting firm in question has been asked to pay the sum of N150,000 as fine with appropriate admonitions.
On Corporate and individual membership, Hassan said the committee to look into the matter has in concurrence with the Council introduced some reforms aimed at instituting definite and transparent process in the membership structures both for individual and corporate members.
He therefore advised members who are interested in Associate Certificate of the Institute to approach the Chartered Insurance institute of Nigeria (CIIN), the educational arm of the industry for any information they may need.
ILAN boss pointed out that arrangement has reached an advantage to provide the much delayed two elective papers approved by CIIN to be taken by the would be Loss Adjusters which he said in a few days will get to the examination body for printing and inclusion in their syllabus.
He said in order to cement relationship with other bodies within and outside the industry, the Council has paid courtesy visits on NAICOM and the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB).
At NAICOM, according to him, interactions at the meeting led to NAICOM showing interest in the well-being of ILAN members through directives to ensure that Adjusters fees are paid promptly; capacity development of ILAN members aimed at improving the quality of our services and increased role availed Nigerian Loss Adjusters in claims involving collaboration with foreign adjusters.
He said at NCRIB they secured their promise to cooperate with ILAN members in earning their fees by reducing the list of co-insurers in some accounts which he said has made it difficult and expenses to collect their fees/expenses for jobs already executed.
Hassan posited that a visit on Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA); Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) among others is being scheduled for next year.
He said the Council’s planned visit on LCCI and MAN is part of his presidency’s agenda aimed at enlightening the end-users of insurance on the roles and functions of a Loss Adjuster with the ultimate objective of educating them on how to minimize disputes with insurance companies through appropriate transfer of information which, if sustained, could also open new business opportunities for ILAN members.
