STAFF relations in the glass and chrome citadel of Irish Life are at a low ebb. But at least any contentious issues will be resolved democratically without intervention from government. Not so in Nigeria where there is a more draconian approach to the regulation of financial services.

Reports this week suggest that the military government intends extending the powers of its "failed bank tribunals" to encompass "erring" insurance industry executives. Malpractice is endemic in what has been described at the country's "distressed" financial services sector.

The tribunals are primarily concerned with identifying, controlling and punishing general banking malpractice but will now also have a function in determining operating methods in insurance companies.

Nigeria's finance minister said that the government considered the insurance sector to be in crisis with supervisory controls by the regulatory body "very weak". Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, has been rocked by massive fraud in the financial services sector which has shaken public confidence in the business community.

It goes without saying that the day to day operations of Irish Life are in no way comparable to those of their ailing counterparts in Nigeria. All the same Irish Life's chief executive for Ireland and the UK, the redoubtable Ms Jean Wood, will be counting her blessings at having the Labour Relations Commission examining her palace revolt instead of a military tribunal.