NNIS Constitution

§1. Name

1.1 The organization shall be known as NZUKO NDI IGBO IN SWEDEN

1.2 Motto: IGWE BU IKE

1.3 NZUKO NDI IGBO shall be generally independent, Non-profit organization – auspices of Federal Republic of Nigeria and shall maintain political and religious neutrality.

§2. Membership: DE FACTO MEMBERSHIP

2.1 Membership shall be open to all by birth (or) by either of the parents and by naturalization.

2.2 By marriage, Partnership (sambo), registration and by confirmation of honour-showing good will and strong interest of the Igbo’s at heart.

Full Membership

2.3 Shall be by writing ... through a prescribed application form obtainable from the secretariat by all who shall fulfill all financial obligations.

2.4 Registration shall be per head to the tune of 150kr. only once.

2.5 Annual dues for full membership shall be 200kr. per head annually

2.6 Contingency fees shall be 200kr.per head/per annum

§3. Aims/Objectives

3.1 A forum to share ideas, associate and to respond to the common goals and interests of one another.

3.2 A forum to promote our culture, our language and all other social-economic activities and programs.

3.3 A forum to foster brotherlihood and unity amongst the Ibos in Sweden.

3.4 A forum that can enable us integrate strongly into the society where we are living Sweden.

3.5 A forum to dissuade drug use, alcoholism, crime, racial discrimination, prostitution and fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS

3.6 A forum to help our children to meet, know and understand each other in order to share or learn our culture, language and heritage.

§4. Finance

4.1 Financial year shall run from January to December.

4.2 A project shall be sponsored by grants, levies and donations from Stockholm’s Idrottsförvaltningen, members and well wishers.

4.3 The union shall maintain a bank/postgiro account.

4.4 Signatories to the account(s) shall be the Chairman, Treasurer and Financial secretary. The above stated shall do withdrawals. In exceptional cases, some other executive members may be authorized to sign for/on behalf of the above as the case may be approved by the general house NNIS.

4.5 Failure to pay all financial obligations attracts a fine of 50kr extra within a stipulated time (period).

§5. General Meetings/Procedures

5.1 The annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held in the month of April every year with appropriate notice from the Secretary under the instruction of the chairperson, preferably through phone SMS or email. The agenda shall include the following:

5.1.1 Welcome Remark/address and introduction

5.1.2 Election/Continuity of the existing executive depending on the statutory year. Prior to the election at the AGM during the statutory year, there will be 15 minutes question and answer thrown to the nominees for chairmanship where time permits.

5.1.3 Reading of the previous AGM minutes and approval by the house (NNIS)

5.1.4 Reading of the fiscal years financial report by the Treasurer/Financial Secretary and approval by the house (NNIS)

5.1.5 Appointment of Internal Auditor(s) for the fiscal year involved as stipulated by the constitution.

5.1.6 Open discussion, suggestions regarding projects for the fiscal year involved and approval by the house, usually through vote.

5.1.7 Acceptance/handing over and closing remark by the new Executive.

5.2 Meetings shall be held last Saturdays every second months.

5.3 Executive meetings shall be held every second months but before every general meeting.

5.4 Emergency meetings shall be called by the chairman and secretary with appropriate signatories and notice.

5.5 In the absent of the chairman, vice chairman presides over the meetings.

§6. Quorum

6.1 Quorum for general meetings shall be by 8 members including the chairman and the secretary OR who may be appointed to act on behalf of the chairman/Secretary as the case may be.

6.2 Quorum for the executive meeting shall be four (4) members including the chairman and the secretary OR who may be appointed to act on behalf of the chairman/secretary as the case may be.

§7. Executive/Officers and Their Roles (Duties)

7.1 The union shall have the following executives.

7.1.1 The Chairman shall preside over all general meetings, emergency and executive meetings of the union.

7.1.2 The vice chairman shall assume the functions of the Chairman in the absent of the later and carry out other assignments delegated to him/her by the chairman or the union.

7.1.3 The secretary shall prepare the agendas and keep records of all meetings. He/she carry out other duties for the official correspondence for the union.

7.1.4 Assistant secretary shall act on behalf of the secretary if the later is absent. He/she shall carry out other duties which might be delegated to him/her by the secretary or by the house.

7.1.5 Public Relations Officer (PRO) shall be the spokesperson for the union externally. And work in co-operation with the social secretary in social issues/matters within the union.

7.1.6 Social secretary shall be responsible for social affairs and related matters of the union.

7.1.7 Financial secretary shall be responsible for keeping all the financial records of the union. And shall work in full-co-operation with the secretary and the treasurer.

7.1.8 The treasurer shall keep records of the financial transactions, and work in co-operation with the chairman and financial-secretary in approving payment, depositing cash into the account, shall also render financial account to the executives and to the house.

7.1.9 Provost: Shall see to the general orderliness of all the unions’ proceedings and meetings.

7.10 The house under due process shall have patron/matron dully appointed/elected by the house to oversee the welfare of the union.

7.11 Auditors: An independent 3 member auditors shall be dully appointed by the house to independently audit all financial records of the union periodically and are answerable to the general house.

§8. Election

8.0 Elections shall be held every second year in April.

8.1 New executive shall commence office immediately after election.

8.2 Any executive member can hold the same position/post for two terms/tenures only. But can also hold other post/position if elected/nominated.

8.3 Change/impeachment: Executives can be changed in part or as a whole if found to be incompetent or breaching the constitution.

8.3.1 Any member deserving such changes partly or wholly shall communicate by writing to the secretary stating the reason for the change. Investigating committee shall be appointed by the house within 60 days... Upon the findings of the committee, the executive member(s) shall be changed, removed/impeached by 2/3 majority of the house. Under 60days, the officer must be replaced. Under 90 days new executive must be elected. A care taker committee shall run the house under 8:3:1

§9. Ad-Hoc-Committee

9.0 Ad-Hoc-Committee shall be appointed by the house to perform some specific functions like:

9.1 Disciplinary Committee – shall be appointed to see to the overall discipline of the house. It shall be so empowered to reprimand, discipline, fine, caution or even recommend an expulsion of any member who violates the constitutions as the case may be.

9.2 Reconciliatory Committee – shall settle disputes and frictions amongst members. It must be very fair, neutral, just, objective and upright in all its dealings.

9.3 Cultural Committee – shall handle all cultural activities of the house.

9.4 Social Committee – shall see to the social welfare/activities of all members of Nzuko Ndi Igbo etc.

9.5 Any member who refuses a summon to any of the standing committees e.g. disciplinary or reconciliatory attracts fine or other punishment deemed fit by the committee concerned as the case may be.

9.6 The decisions of any of the standing committee must be subject to approval by 2/3 majority of the general house.

§10. Codes of Conduct

10.1 Members are advised to attend meetings regularly and on time too.

10.2 Members must have respect for one another at all times.

10.3 Orderliness and quietness must be maintained in all meetings.

10.4 Lateness after meetings had commenced attracts a fine of 20kr. 50kr for absenteeism and noisemaking respectively (fee subject to changes).

10.5 Withdrawal of membership shall be done only by writing.

10.6 Resignation/vacation of post/position hold in the house shall be done only by writing.

10.7 Dues, fees, donations paid to or given to the house are not refundable at any time or for any reason(s).

10.8 Husband and wife shall not serve in the executive committee or at any other committee at same time. But can serve in different offices.

10.9 The union shall be governed only by the constitution. And all members must abide by the provision of the constitution.

10.10 All disputes between members shall be referred to reconciliatory committee for mediation settlement.

10.11 All abuse of the constitution shall be referred/reported to the disciplinary committee.

10.12 The executive can appoint a member to represent the house in areas where the individual is best qualified.

§11. Changes/Review in the Constitution

11.1 The constitution shall be a flexible one…amendable by simple 2/3 major: such amendment shall be in part or in whole by writing through the secretary-general with the acknowledgement of the chairman.

11.2 The constitution shall be subject to a general review/ reform every 4 years by the house.

§12. dissolution

12.1 The constitution stands dissolved by vote of 100% of all the paid registered members.

12.2 Otherwise, the only paid registered member who resisted dissolution shall adopt all the asset of the union and continue.

§13. obligations

13.1 To qualify for the benefit of full membership registration, annual dues and all financial levies must be fulfilled.

13.2 All members must respond strongly and personally to the death of a financial member-even in serious incident involving a member(s) like accidents etc.

13.3 Membership is lost after 3 consecutive absenteeism from meeting. Except in cases of serious sickness, travels or like as the case may be.

13.4 False claims and impersonal reported if found guilty shall attract a heavy penalty prescribeable by the disciplinary committee. In some cases can lead to expulsion.

§14. benefits

14.1 There will be free will donations during condolence visit to show solidarity in the event of loss or death of Member/parent. This donation will be given out to a financial registered member.

14.2 Death of relatives other than the one mentioned in 14.1 will attract a condolence letter sent to the affected person.

14.3 Admitted sick member beyond one month period shall receive a delegation with a card, visiting him/her either at home or hospital.

14.4 Nzuko Ndi Igbo shall attend in unionism… all social invitations like birth of a child, wedding ceremony, birthday party etc in unionism with a card. All cash donations subject to change).

14.5 In the spirit of love and brother all unregistered non-financial members shall obtain unregistered access to advice, help, information, encouragement and so long she/he shows a great interest in the progress of Nzuko Ndi Igbo.

§15. Executive-Prorogation

15.1 The executive shall exercise the right of prorogation acting in emergency and in areas where the constitution may not have covered on behalf of the house but with proper explanation/notification to the house.

15.2 Members of the executive/standing committee found wanting in discharge of there duties shall be dismissed from the committee through a simple majority if the case is sustained.

15.3 Nzuko Ndi Igbo can affiliate, co-operate with Ibo union around the globe if it is deemed necessary by the house.

15.4 Igbo- language remains the official language- but one is allowed to use the language one can express oneself clearly.

§16. Activities

16.1 Nzuko Ndi Igbo shall carry out a wide range of both social and cultural activities yearly as may be decided at the Annual General Meeting of the Fiscal year.

§17. Others

17.1 The constitution forbids any person/parties to over split Nzuko Ndi Igbo in any way or form.

17.2 All important decision shall be carried out through votes.

§18. Validity

This constitution remains supreme to all argument and is effective from 2009-04-25