INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Despite the introduction of the Structural Adjustment programme (SAP) advocated by the federal government in July, 1986 to combat and resolve the economic crisis that have lingered since 1980, most companies especially the manufacturing companies have shown bad performances low capacity utilization has led to the retrenchment of thousands of workers nationwide since the last quarter of 1993.
Obviously, the insurance industry cannot be spared from reacting to sudden change in the economy which is difficult to predict. There is direct positive relationship between the performance of the economy and that of the insurance industry. The industry must take the appropriate actions to relieve the fears and concerns of the watchers and viewers of the industry. It can also adopt effective work processes or systems, to meet the expectations of the growing population of the insured. Over the years, the insurance services (product) way of performance has taken the form of religiously repeating has same set of tasks over and over again without considering effectiveness as it relates to the needs of customer. More or less, the performance of the insurance services has been that of routing and stereotyped activity as they handed down by the pioneers (British companies).
Surprisingly, many policy documents of today are still fashioned and designed with the same wordings and format as they were from their inception such as; withnesseth, thereto whereunto and many more. They still the smallest tiny prints, which are not easy to read and write.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Insurance industry just like other industries within the economy such as: manufacturing, construction, education, banking, medical legal professions and many others are not free from problems or diverse forms and nature. The peculiar problems with insurance industry in the recent past include:
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
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1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The Nigeria insurance industry is currently at an important cross road and so there is the need to take stock and review the performance of the industry in order to develop ways to met unfulfilled expectations and future challenges.
There are many potential benefits. Insurers can earn a superior reputation in the market. They can increase engagement and loyalty among staff while reducing turnover rates. Ultimately it will result in insurers becoming more attractive to investors, who are increasingly concerned about CRS and corporate governance.
Some of the benefits are;
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF STUDIES
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
The terms to define are as follows:
Insurance: This is an agreement or contract between two partners to insure a particular subject matter against loss of damage.
Brokers: These are professional intermediaries between the insuring public and the insurance company.
Re-insurance: This means re-insuring a particular subject matter which has been insured for a second time. This time the insurance arrangement is between the insurance company (ceding company) and the re-insurance company.
Agent: these are intermediaries in insurance contract. They are not professional persons and they may emerge from any profession but must possess the ability to convince a prospective client about a policy.
Contra-preferential-rule This states that any party which draws a document is responsible for it, such any ambiguity or unclearity arising from it shall be continued against such party.
Respondent bond: This is a situation where cargo is pledge to obtain a loan instead of vessel.
Bottom: This is a loan obtained by a ship owner to cover vessel being loss to a particular voyage.
Canvassing: This is a situation whereby an insurance broker or agent goes about seeking for buyers of insurance policy.
Under writing: This is the assessment of risk and deciding on whether to accept the risk cover or not.