AWA CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 1
NAME
The Association shall be known, called and addressed as ATEKO WOMEN ASSOCIATION (hereinafter referred to as AWA).

ARTICLE 2
MOTTO
Education, Unity and Development.
 
ARTICLE 3
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of AWA shall be:
1. To promote love, understanding and co-operation among Igala people.
2. To render educational assistance to the womenfolk, children and the less privileged in Igala land.
3. To participate and be part of any International activity in furtherance to the promotion and
advancement of AWA objectives.
To achieve these objectives, AWA shall have:
A National Secretariat headed by a National President
Chapters headed by Chapter Presidents (within and outside Nigeria)
 
ARTICLE 4
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of AWA shall be strictly for University or Polytechnic Female graduates.
Membership shall be open to Igala women by birth or by marriage.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
AWA shall have honorary members to be chosen at a General Meeting based on contributions of identified individuals towards the progress of the Association.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP
1. Observation of two consecutive meetings by prospective members.
2. Completion and submission of a membership form with a passport photograph
3. Upon acceptance, payment of registration fee of N2,000 (Two thousand naira) by applicant.
 
ARTICLE 5
OBLIGATION
All AWA members shall be obliged to:
a) Promptly pay all monthly dues, fines subscriptions and levies
b) Fully participate in all AWA activities
c) Regularly and punctually attend all meetings
d) Notify the secretary of any change of name, address etc.
e) Inform the secretary of any birth, marriage, death, etc.
f) Accept on admission, the principles, policies and programmes of AWA, to bear allegiance to the Constitution of AWA, its rule and regulations and obey all lawful directives from the executives of AWA.

ARTICLE 6
A) TRUSTEES
a) There shall be fourteen (14) Trustees of the Association made up of the founding members and others who shall be appointed by the General House from amongst reputable members of the society. They shall be known as “THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF ATEKO WOMEN ASSOCIATION”.

b) Where the Trustees are required to act, any four of them from their members present shall act. If for any reason there should be a Vote of no confidence in the executive, the trustees are empowered to form a caretaker committee and call an election of new executives as soon as possible but not later than three months from date of no confidence vote.

c) The Trustees may hold office for life but a Trustee shall cease to hold office if;
i)  he or she resigns his or her office by notice in writing given to the Association or
ii) a resolution is passed by 2/3 majority of the General house removing him or her or
iii) if he or she becomes insane or
iv) is officially declared bankrupt or
v) convicted of criminal offence involving dishonesty by a court or
vi) he or she ceases to live in Nigeria or
vii) he or she dies.

d) Any vacancy occurring in the number of Trustees of AWA shall be filled by appointment of another eligible member at a general meeting as replacement.

e) There shall be vested in the Trustees, all the property of the association other than cash which will be under the control of the Treasurer.

f) The common seal of the Association shall be under the custody of the National Secretary who shall produce same whenever required for use by the Trustees.

g) All documents to be executed by the Trustees shall be signed by each of them and signed with the common seal of AWA.

h) The Trustees shall apply to the Corporate Affairs Commission for certificate of incorporation under the Company and Allied matters Decree No.1, 1990 part C and other relevant Government authorities.

i) If for any reason the General House loses confidence in the executive before their tenure expires, the Trustees shall take over the running of the Association for a maximum period of three (3) months before a new executive is elected.

j) For the purpose of checks and balances, the Trustees shall have power to investigate any member of AWA that has been suspected to have fraudulently embezzled Association money entrusted to her. The Trustees shall have power to recover any monies misappropriated by any member of the Association through legal process. The Trustees shall also have the power to bring to book any member who behaves contrary to the code of conduct laid down in the Constitution of AWA.

ARTICLE 7
APPOINTMENTS
A) PATRON/MATRON
1. The Patron Shall be the ‘Father’ and counselor and shall participate in the activities of the Association as it is convenient for him to do so.
2. The Matron Shall be the ‘Mother’ and counselor and shall participate in the activities of the Association as it is convenient for her to do so.
B) EXTERNAL LEGAL ADVISER
To give legal advice to the Association and handle all legal matters involving the Association.

ARTICLE 8
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
There shall be National EXCO in addition to the chapter EXCOs. The National EXCO shall have a National President, National Secretary and Treasurer/Financial Secretary who shall be in charge of the staff and properties of the Association at the National Secretariat. All of the National officers must be resident in Nigeria for easy coordination of the secretariat.

ARTICLE 9
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A. i) AWA shall have the following Executive Positions at the National level.
a) National President
b) National Secretary
c) National Treasurer/Financial Secretary
ii) QUALIFICATION FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT
a) Must have served as a Chapter President
b) Must not be below the age of 45 years
c) Must be resident in Nigeria
DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT
The National President shall:
a) Give approval on all AWA projects or financial matters involving sourcing of funds.
b) Coordinate all activities of the Chapters of the Association through the Chapter President including the Career Guidance/Counseling and Vocational center at Agbeji, Dekina LGA, Kogi State.
c) Be one of the signatories of AWA bank account and all other documents at the National level.
d) Through the National Secretary, summon annual general meetings and preside over all such meetings.
e) Be chief executive officer in charge of the staff at the National Secretariat.
f) Invite the Trustees once in two years to discuss how to move the association forward.
g) Handle all unresolved disciplinary matters referred to the National Secretariat from the Chapters.
h) Be the image maker of the Association
i) Direct any Chapter President to act in her absence.
 
NATIONAL SECRETARY
The National Secretary shall:
a) Keep accurate and up to date minutes of all AGMs
b) Be custodian of all books, records and documents of the Association at the National level.
c) Be responsible for incoming and outgoing correspondence at the National level.
d) Take charge of and give consent before release of any asset or equipment of the Association at any level.
e) Give report of the Association’s assets at the AGM.
f) Ensure that any venue agreed upon for the AGM is ready on time.
NATIONAL TREASURER
The National Treasurer shall:
a) Receive all monies due to the Association from all Chapters and elsewhere and pay same into the account within seventy-two hours
b) Keep all records of income/expenditure of the association
c) Keep all bank documents of the Association
d) Be signatory to the Association’s account at the National level.
e) Present a financial report of the Association at the AGM.
B. AWA shall have the following executive positions at the chapter level.
a)  President
b)  Vice President
c)  General Secretary
d)  Assistant General Secretary
e) Financial Secretary
f) Assistant Financial Secretary
g)  Treasurer
h)  Assistant Treasurer
i)  Social Secretary
j)  Welfare Secretary
k) Publicity Secretary
l) Provost
m) Co-ordinator
n) Legal Adviser
 
C) POWERS
AWA Exco shall have powers to carry out and implement the policies and decisions of AWA as to give full effect to the intent and desires of AWA.
 
DUTIES OF THE CHAPTER OFFICERS
1. PRESIDENT
The President shall:
a) Through the General Secretary, summon emergency Meetings.
b) Preside over General Meetings.
c) Co-ordinate and harmonise activities of the Association
d) Direct the activities of the Executives with a view to executing the policies of the Association and achieving its set goals.
e) She shall be one of the signatories of the Association’s Bank Account and all other documents.
2. VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President shall:
a) Assist the President in all her duties.
b) Preside over General meetings whenever the President is absent
c) Chair the Disciplinary Committee
d) Perform such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned to her by the President and or the Executive Committee
3. GENERAL SECRETARY
The General Secretary shall:
a) Keep accurate and up to date minutes of all meetings
b) Be the custodian of all books, records and documents of the Association at Chapter levels
c) Be responsible for in-coming and out-going correspondences
4. ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY
The Assistant General Secretary shall:
a) Assist the General Secretary in all her duties
b) Perform such other duties and functions as shall from time to time be assigned to her by the General Secretary and/or the Executive Committee
5. FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The Financial Secretary shall:
a) Keep all financial reports
b) Keep all records of income/expenditure of the Chapter
c) Keep and present financial reports to the Executive Committee
d) Keep all bank documents of the Chapter
e) Prepare annual financial position of the Chapter and present same to the General House
f) Be a signatory to the Association’s account.
6. ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The Assistant Financial Secretary shall:
a) Assist the Financial Secretary in all her duties
b)     Act in place of the Financial Secretary in her absence and submit all documents/monies received to the Financial Secretary within 48 hours of her return
c)     Perform such other duties and functions as shall from time to time be assigned to her by the Executive Committee
7. TREASURER
The Treasurer shall:
a)     Receive all monies due to the Chapter and pay same into the account within seventy- two hours
b) Shall keep all records of income/expenditure of the Chapter
c) Shall keep all bank documents of the Chapter
d) Shall be a signatory to the Association’s account
8. ASSISTANT TREASURER
The Assistant Treasurer shall:
a) Assist the Treasurer in all her duties
b) Act in place of the Treasurer in her absence and submit all documents/monies received to the Treasurer within 48 hours of her return
c) Perform such other duties and functions as shall from time to time be assigned to her by the Executive Committee
9. SOCIAL SECRETARY
The Social Secretary Shall:
a) Be the organiser of Social activities, functions, ceremonies and programmes that have to do with the aims and objectives of the Association
b) Take charge of the assets/equipments of the Association for any purpose
c) Give report of the Association’s assets at the annual General Meeting
d) Give consent before release of any asset/equipment
e) Ensure that venue(s) agreed by members to be used for any function or purpose is ready on time
10. ASSISTANT SOCIAL SECRETARY
The Assistant Social Secretary Shall:
a) Assist the Assistant Social Secretary in all her duties
b) Perform such other duties and functions as shall from time to time be assigned to her by the General Secretary and/or the Executive Committee
 
11. WELFARE SECRETARY
The Welfare Secretary shall: 
a) Organise visitations to members when necessary
b) Ensure prompt payment of members’ benefits as soon as the Secretary notifies her
 
12. ASSISTANT WELFARE SECRETARY
The Welfare Secretary shall:
a) Assist the Assistant Welfare Secretary in all her duties
b) Perform such other duties and functions as shall from time to time be assigned to her by the General Secretary and/or the Executive Committee
 
13. PUBLICITY SECRETARY
The Publicity Secretary Shall:
a) Publicize all activities of the Association as may be decided by the General House
b) Shall be the image maker of the Association and foster cordial relationships between the Association and the General Public
 
14. PROVOST
The Provost shall:
a) Maintain orderliness during meetings
b) Check lateness of members
c) Ensure compliance with the provisions of the Constitution
d) Ensure that all fines and levies are duly paid to the Financial Secretary
The Legal Adviser shall: 
a) Render advice on legal issues as at when necessary
b) Be involved in all legal documentation and be a signatory to all documents.
16. AUDITORS
 Both Internal and External Auditors shall be appointed by AWA General Meeting.
a) The Internal Auditor will audit the Association’s accounts quarterly while the External Auditor will do the same at the end of every financial year.
b) The audited accounts shall be submitted to the AWA Exco, which in turn will present same at the Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE 10
ELECTION
AWA General Elections shall be at the beginning of every four years in the month of February.
Any vacancy that may be created by the exit of an executive member shall be filled at a General Meeting through a bye-election and tenure for such an appointment shall for the unexpired residue of the term. Candidates for the post of President must have:
a) once served in the EXCO
b) Been a member of the Association not less than five years from the date of the election.
c) Must not serve more than two consecutive terms of four years each.
However, an Exco member may resign her post provided she:
a) gives three months notice in writing
b) attends all general meetings
c) must have served in the office for at least one (1) year.

ARTICLE 11
COMMITTEES
AWA shall have the following committees:
a) Disciplinary committee
Any erring AWA member shall be referred to a disciplinary committee.
 The disciplinary committee shall:
a. Comprise of Vice President, Provost, Legal Adviser and any other member;
b. Investigate all cases referred to it;
c. Recommend all measures suitable and proper to the offence;
d. Discipline minor offenders and inform the General House accordingly.
e. Address any confirmed strained relationship between members.
b) Social and Welfare committee.
c) Ad-hoc committee as the need arises.

ARTICLE 12
MEETINGS
a) Frequency of Meetings: AWA shall hold its General Meetings on the second Sunday of every month.
b) Time of Meeting: The monthly General Meeting shall commence at 3p.m or any other time appointed.
c) Venue of Meetings: AWA General Meetings shall be held at members’ residences on rotational basis or any such place as may be decided by the General House.
d) Voting at Meetings: This shall be by open ballot in which (contestants) members’ names shall be put down on papers provided.
e) Language Meetings: All deliberations at meetings shall be in English and Igala.
f) Emergency General Meetings shall be convened when the need arises
g) Quorum at Meetings: 1/2 of members including 1/3 of Executive members shall form a quorum at any general meeting.
h) Exco Meeting: AWA EXCO shall meet at least four times a year.
 - Quorum: 2/3 of EXCO members shall form a quorum for the meetings.
- Emergency EXCO meetings shall be held when the need arises
 - In the absence of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any member of the EXCO shall be appointed to perform her duties.  
 i) Power of Attorney for voting at meetings: Any member of AWA absent from any meeting and wishing to exercise her voting right shall complete the power of Attorney form duly signed and submit same to the Secretary of AWA.
j) Annual General Meetings: AWA shall have Annual General Meetings to be held in December every year. All Chapter EXCO members, coordinators and their representatives shall be in attendance.
- The meeting shall receive the Chapter President’s reports of the preceding year’s activities.
- It shall receive and consider the financial statement of the Chapters and the National level from the Financial Secretary.

ARTICLE 13
MEMBERS EXIT/ENTRY
 - Any member who has been absent with the consent of the General House shall be re-Admitted without any clause provided such a member has been living up to the financial obligations of AWA.
- Any AWA member however proceeding on suspension shall be re-admitted by the General House only at the expiration of the suspension term, subject to the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee.
- Expulsion of any member for gross misconduct shall be without appeal for re-admission.
Resignation of membership shall be on the following grounds:
a) Submission of a letter of resignation in writing to the Secretary of AWA.
b)  Subject to (a) above, no resignation of the member shall be accepted if the member has a case pending before the Disciplinary Committee.

ARTICLE 14
The following shall constitute Offences and Disciplinary action
i) OFFENCES
a) Disrespect - Any disrespectful disposition towards the President or any member of AWA
b) Immorality- Any immoral conduct by a member that tends to lower the image and integrity of AWA before the Society
c) Indecency- Any member found guilty of any act of indecency or use of abusive or indecent language on another member.
d) Rumour Mongering/Malicious Gossip- Any member who indulges in any malicious gossip or rumour mongering.
e) Fraud
f) Absence from meeting without permission or prior information or apology.
ii) DISCIPLINARY ACTION
a) Fraud – Any member or official who is alleged to have defrauded a member or any member of the public and so found guilty by a law court shall be expelled from AWA.
b) Any member who absents herself from the meetings without apology for her absence, shall pay a fine of N500 in addition to the monthly dues.
c) Any member who absents herself from 3 consecutive meetings without any information shall be visited by 2 members (Welfare Secretary and any other member). The report of the visit will determine the disciplinary action to be against such a member.
d) Any member who is late to any meeting shall be liable to pay a fine of N200 for lateness except where prior permission has been sought and obtained.

ARTICLE 15
FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT
a) Monthly Dues – The monthly dues shall be N500 and any other amount that shall be agreed upon at a General Meeting.
All dues must be paid during meetings. Failure to do so will attract an additional 20% of dues owed. A warning shall be given to any member owing for three consecutive months and a persistent defaulter shall be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.
b) Special Levies – AWA shall have powers to impose levies on members as the need arises. Every such levy shall be binding on every member.
c) Registration fees – Every AWA member shall pay a registration fee of N2,000.00.
 d) Financial Year – The financial year of the Association shall be February to January.
e) Banking – AWA shall operate accounts and all monies shall be deposited in the bank within three (3) working days of its receipt.
The bank or banks shall be the one chosen by AWA at a General Meeting. AWA may change its bank or bankers as the General House may deem expedient.
The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be the accredited signatories to all cheques, money orders, bills or any other money instruments to be drawn in the name of AWA.
The authorised signatories at any time shall be any two of the following – The President, Treasurer and Secretary.
f) Annual Dues – AWA members shall each pay an annual due of the sum of N1,000.00 (One thousand Naira) in the month of February.

ARTICLE 16
HONOURS LIST
AWA shall recognise personalities who have contributed towards the objectives of AWA and Igala land in general.

ARTICLE 17
RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
AWA members being subjected to the provisions of this constitution shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of membership as follows:
a) Births – Two representatives of AWA shall visit a member who gives birth with the sum of N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) in addition to individual contributions from members as decided by the General House. AWA members shall also attend the naming or christening ceremony if any.
b) Other Benefits – AWA shall demonstrate their sympathy towards any member who is involved in any mishap and shall demonstrate love towards each other by giving both moral and financial support at all times as a body or on individual basis. The collective financial support shall be as agreed upon by the General House.
  c) Death Benefits
i)    Parent – The Association shall give N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) to a bereaved member and members must be physically present to give support to the bereaved member.
ii)       Parents-in-law - The Association shall give N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) to a bereaved member. Five members shall be in attendance one of which shall be an Executive.
iii)  Husband – The Association shall give N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira) to a bereaved member as well as N1,000 (One Thousand Naira) from each member. 
All members shall, on receipt of the notice of death, immediately converge at the bereaved’s known address where further arrangements would be made.
AWA shall make arrangements for members’ presence all through the burial rites and mode of dressing shall be determined at a General Meeting.
iv) Member – On the death of a member, all members shall collectively mourn her. The
deceased member’s next of kin shall be entitled to the sum of N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) and N2,000 (Two Thousand Naira) to be contributed by every member. An obituary advertisement shall be inserted in any of the dailies as approved by the General House.
All members shall, on receipt of the notice of death, immediately converge at the deceased’s known address where further arrangements would be made.
AWA shall make arrangements for members’ presence all through the burial rites and mode of dressing shall be determined at a General Meeting.
 
d) Marriages – Any member of AWA wedding shall notify the General House at least one month before the wedding.
i) Member’s Marriage: Any AWA member marrying shall be given a gift to be decided by the General House.
ii) Children’s marriages: Any member’s child getting married shall be entitled to a gift to be decided by the General House and such notice shall be given at least one month to the wedding date.
e) Social Activity
AWA shall organise an annual function to cater for the family of its members at a pre-arranged venue to be decided by the General House.

ARTICLE 18
SPECIAL CLAUSE
1. The income and property of the ATEKO WOMEN ASSOCIATION (AWA) however derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the Association as set forth in these Rules and Regulations/Constitution and no portion hereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus, or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members. 
2. PROVIDED that nothing herein shall prevent the payment, in good faith or reasonable and proper remuneration to any officer or servant of the Association in return for any service actually rendered to the Association but so that no member of the council of management or governing body shall be appointed to any salaried officer of the Association and that no remuneration or other benefits in money or monies shall be given to any member except repayment of out of pocket expenses. PROVIDED that the provision last aforesaid shall not apply to any payment by any company to a member in which such member shall not hold more than one hundred (100) part of the capital, and such member shall not be bound to account for any share of profits or she may receive in respect of any such payment.
3. No addition, alteration or amendment shall be made to or in this Constitution for the time being in force, unless the same have been previously submitted to and approved by two-thirds majority at a general meeting and same having been previously submitted to and approved by the Registrar-General.
4. In the event of a winding up or dissolution of the association there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the association but shall be given or transferred to some other institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of this association and the body or bodies are prohibited from distributing its or their incomes and property amongst its or their members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the association under or by virtue of the SPECIAL CLAUSE hereof, such institution or institutions o be determined by the members of the association effect cannot be given to the aforesaid provision then to some charitable object.

 ARTICLE 19
AMENDMENT
The foregoing provisions are subject to alteration, amendment or repeal by two-third majority of all
members of the AWA at a general meeting after same has been previously submitted to and approved
by the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission.

ARTICLE 20
INTERACTION
Where there is ambiguity in the interpretation of the rules and regulations herein contained, the joint
decision of the Legal Adviser and the Executive Committee is hereby empowered to make clarifications as
well as rules and regulations on any matter not provided for herein before.

COMMENCEMENT AND REVOCATION 
These rules and regulations are deemed to have come into effect on the
_______________________ Day of _____________________ 2000 and it supersedes any existing rules
and regulations which is hereby declared null and void and of no effect whatsoever.