THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE NIGERIA NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
ARTICLE ONE:
NAME
The name
of this organization shall be the Nigeria National
Federation of the Blind.
ARTICLE TWO:
MOTTO
The Motto
shall be Progress,
Independence
and Equality.
ARTICLE THREE:
AIMS
AND
OBJECTIVES
The Aims
and Objectives of the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind are:
-
To serve
as a vehicle for collective action by the blind of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
-
To
function as a mechanism through which the blind can come
together in Local, State and National meetings to plan and
carry out programs to improve the qualities of their lives.
-
To
provide a means of collective action for parent of blind
children.
-
To
promote the vocational, cultural, education, economic and
social advancement of the blind.
-
To
achieve the integration of the blind into the society on a
basis of equality with their sighted counterparts.
-
To
generate funds through: (a) Government subventions (b)
Subscriptions (c) Donations (d) Levies
(a) Fines, etc.
-
To
provide scholarships to deserving blind persons.
-
To
produce: (a) Journals (b) Magazines (c) Pamphlets
(d) Calendars (For the" blind)
-
To
encourage the local production of special equipment and
materials for the blind.
-
To defend and protect the rights of the blind. xi. To take any other action which will improve the overall
condition and the living standard of the blind.
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ARTICLE FOUR:
MEMBERSHIP
The Membership of Nigeria National Federation of the Blind
(NNFB) shall consist of state branches including
Abuja.
Local
Government chapters are answerable to their state branches.
Interested sighted individuals or groups shall be
registered as "associate" Members but shall have neither
voting powers nor be financial members.
The National Executive Council shall establish procedures
for registration of members and determine the annual dues to
be paid.
ARTICLE FIVE:
OFFICERS
The
Officers of the Nigeria National Federation of the blind
shall comprises:
-
President
-
Vice
President
-
General
Secretary
-
Assistant
General Secretary
-
Treasurer
-
Financial
Secretary
-
Auditor
-
Public
Relations Officer
They shall serve a term of three years after which there
will be fresh elections. No officer shall serve more than two
consecutive terms in an office.
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ARTICLE SIX:
POWERS
AND
DUTIES
OF
THE OFFICERS
1.
PRESIDENT:
The President shall be the principal administrative
officer of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind. His
duties shall consist of:
(a)
Carrying
out the policies adopted by the convention.
(b)
Authorizing expenditures from the NNFB treasury.
(c)
Shall preside over all meetings of the Nigeria National
Federation of the Blind.
(d)
Shall represent the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind at
National and International engagements.
(e) Shall
exercise voting right in case of deadlock during voting. '.
(f)
Shall be a signatory to the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind account.
2.
VICE PRESIDENT:
-
Shall act in
the absence of the President.
-
Shall perform
any other duty as may be assigned to him or her by the President.
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3.
GENERAL SECRETARY
(a) Shall in consultation with the President summon
meetings of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind.
(b)
Shall
record minutes at meetings and read same at subsequent meetings.
(c)
Shall handle all correspondence and make relevant documents available
during all meetings of the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind.
(d)
Shall present a written comprehensive annual record
of the activities of the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind to the Convention.
(e) Shall be
a signatory to the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind
Account.
(f)
Shall operate an impress account.
4.
ASSISTANT
SECRETARY:
(a)
Shall act
in the absence of the General Secretary
(b)
Shall
carry out such functions as delegated to him or her by the
General Secretary.
5.
TREASURER:
(a)
Shall receive all monies of the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind and pay same into the Bank account within seventy-two
hours.
(b)
Shall be
a signatory to the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind
Account.
(e)
Shall keep and present financial report of the Nigeria National
Federation of the Blind as may be demanded by the National
Executive Council and at convention.
(d)
Shall
keep all bank documents of the Nigeria National Federation of
the Blind.
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6.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY:
(a)
Shall keep all financial reports of the Nigeria National Federation of
the Blind and present same when necessary.
(b)
Shall collect all monies of the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind and remit same to the Treasurer within forty-eight hours.
7.
AUDITOR:
(a) Shall
audit the account of the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind and present same when necessary.
8.
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER:
(a) Shall publicize all activities of the Nigeria National
Federation of the Blind as may be directed by the National
Executive Council.
(b)
Shall liaise with the hosting of the state executive committee for
arrangement before and during all meetings of the Nigeria
National Federation of the Blind.
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ARTICLE SEVEN:
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
There shall be a National Executive Council of the Nigeria
National Federation of the Blind which shall be composed of
eight officers and Chairman of the State Branches and
Abuja.
ARTICLE EIGHT:
POWER
AND
DUTIES
OF
THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
i.
The function
of the National Executive Council as the governing body of the
Nigeria National Federation of the Blind between conventions
is to make policies when necessary and not in conflict with the
policies adopted by the convention.
-
Policy
decision which can reasonably be postponed until the next
meeting of the national convention shall not be made by the
National Executive Council.
-
Shall decide
regarding the validity of elections In the state branches.
-
It shall have
the power to· deal with organizational problems presented to it
by the state branch.
-
Shall certify
the eligibility of delegates when questions regarding the
validity of such arise.
-
By two thirds
votes the National Executive may suspend one of its member for
violation of a policy of the organization or for other actions
unbecoming to a member of the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind.
-
(a) The
National Executive Council shall meet at the time of each
National Convention.
-
(b)
It shall hold other meetings on the call of the president, or on the
written request of any nine members.
-
It shall
appoint committees when necessary.
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ARTICLE NINE:
POWERS AND DUTIES
OF
THE
CONVENTION
1.
The
convention is the supreme authority of the Nigeria National
Federation of the Blind.
2.
It is the
legislature of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind as
such is has final authority with respect to all issues of
policy.
-
Its decisions
shall be made after opportunity has been afforded for full and
fair discussion.
-
Each state
branch and
Abuja
shall have three delegates for the convention.
-
Convention
shall hold once in a year.
-
Delegates in
attendance may participate in all convention discussions as a
matter of right.
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ARTICLE
TEN:
PATRONS
AND
BOARD
OF
TRUSTEES
1. PATRONS:
(a)
The Nigeria National Federation of the Blind shall
have a Grand Patron in the person of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(b)
Other
patrons shall include the Federal Minister of Social Development
(e)
Chairman of the Social Welfare committee in the National House of
Representatives.
(d)
Four
eminent Nigerians.
2.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
There shall
be a board of trustees of five eminent Nigerians.
(a)
The Trustees of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind for the
purpose of the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act Chapter 98 shall
be appointed at a General Meeting of the Meeting charged with
the responsibility of selecting the Trustees.
(b)
Such Trustees (hereinafter referred to as "The Trustees" shall be in
number and shall be known as, "THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE
NIGERIA NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND.
(c)
The
Trustees may hold office for life but a Trustee shall cease to
hold office if he:
-
Resigns his
office
-
Ceases to be
a member of the registered Trustees of the Nigeria National
Federation of the Blind.
-
Becomes
insane
-
Is officially
declared bankrupt
-
Convicted of
a criminal offence involving dishonesty by a court of
competent Jurisdiction.
-
Is
recommended for removal from office by a Board of Governor's and
Trustees' majority vote of members present at any General
Meeting of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind. OR
-
Ceases to
reside in
Nigeria.
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(d)
Upon a vacancy occurring in the number of Trustees, a General Meeting
will be held to appoint another eligible member of the Nigeria
National Federation of the Blind.
(e) Such common seal will be kept in the custody of the
Secretary (or whoever is desired) who shall produce it when
required for use by the Trustees.
(f)
All documents to be executed by the Trustees shall
be signed by such of them and sealed with the common seal.
ARTICLE
ELEVEN:
LEGAL
ADVISER
The Nigeria National Federation of the Blind shall have a
Legal Adviser who accepts to serve the organization.
ARTICLE
TWELVE:
SPECIAL
CLAUSE
THE INCOME
AND
PROPERTY of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind
when-so-ever derived shall be applied solely towards the
promotion of the objects to the Nigeria National Federation of
the Blind as set forth in this RULES
AND REGULATIONS/CONSTITUTION; and no portion thereof shall be
paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend,
bonus, or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members
of the Nigeria Federation of the Blind.
2. PROVIDED that nothing herein shall prevent the payment,
in good faith, or reasonable and proper remuneration to any
officer or servant of the Nigeria National Federation of the
Blind in return for any service actually rendered to the
Nigeria National Federation of the Blind but so that no member
of the Council of Management or governing Body shall be
appointed to any salaried office of the Nigeria National
Federation of the Blind or any office of the Nigeria National
Federation of the Blind paid by fees, and that no remuneration
or other benefit in money or money shall be given by the Nigeria
National Federation of the Blind to any member of such Council
or Governing Body except repayment of out-of-pocket expenses or
reasonable and proper rent for premises demised, or let to the
Nigeria National Federation of the Blind provided that the
provision last aforesaid shall not apply to any payment of any
company to a member of the Nigeria, National Federation of the
Blind may be a Company in which such member shall not hold more
than one-hundredth part of the capital, and such member shall
not be bound to account for any share of profits he may receive
in respect of any such payment.
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3. NO ADDITION, alternation, or amendment shall be made to
or in the RULES
AND REGULATIONS/CONSTITUTION for the time being in force,
unless the same have been previously submitted to and approved
by the Minister.
3.IN the event of a winding up or dissolution of the Nigeria
National Federation of the Blind, there remains, after the
satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property
whatsoever, the same shall not be aid to or distributed among
the members of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind but
shall be given or transferred to some other institution or
institutions, having objects similar to the objects of the
Nigeria National Federation of the Blind and the body or bodies
are prohibited from distributing its or their income and
property amongst its or their members to an extent at least as
great its is imposed on the CONSTITUTION under or by virtue of
the SPECIAL CLAUSE hereof, such institution or institutions to
be determined by the members of Nigeria National Federation of
the Blind or before the time of dissolution and if in so far as
effect cannot be given to the aforesaid provision then to some
charitable object.
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ARTICLE
THIRTEEN:
AMENDMENT
This Constitution may be amended at any regular annual
convention of the Nigeria National Federation of the Blind by
any affirmative vote of two-thirds of the state branches
registered, present voting provided that the proposed amendment
shall have been signed by seven state branches and it shall have
been presented to the 2resident the day before final action by
the convention.
Effective
date
10th August, 1990.
Signed:
Chairman
Secretary ^Top
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