Ordinary membership shall be restricted to organisations falling within the following
categories, namely:
Nigerian Professional Organisations
Nigerian Cultural Organisations
Nigerian Sporting Organisations
Nigerian Student Organisations
Nigerian State-based welfare Organisations
Nigerian welfare organisations based in the regions of the United Kingdom.
Nigerian Social Clubs
An organisation falling into any of the categories set out above shall only be admitted to membership of the Association with the approval of the Executive passed by ordinary resolution and if its membership strength is not less than twenty fully paid up Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom.
Where an organisation does not measure its strength on account of membership by payment, it will be for that organisation to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Executive Committee of the Association that it has the size referred to above. It will be for each organisation seeking to be admitted as an ordinary member of the Association to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Executive Committee of the Association that it meets the criteria for admission as set out in paragraph above.
Whilst it will not form a criterion for or a bar against membership, where there is an overlap, (whether cultural, societal, regional or in some other form), between existing or aspirant member groups of the Association, the Executive Committee may encourage such groups to come together in their membership or application for membership of the Association.
An ordinary member of the Association with a membership of twenty and above shallbe entitled to be represented by one delegate in the General Assembly.
An ordinary member of the Association with a membership of forty and above shall beentitled to be represented by a maximum of two delegates in the General Assembly.
Each delegate representing ordinary members in the General Assembly shall beentitled to one vote on any issue. This vote shall be exercisable in person only and not by proxy.
Any group of the kind set out in above that fails to meet the minimum requirement of twenty members for ordinary membership or that chooses itself not to become an ordinary member, although meeting the stipulated requirements may nonetheless be admitted as an associate member of the Association with the approval of its Executive Committee.
Associate membership may also be drawn from any corporate organisations that seek to advance the interest of Nigerians in UK or otherwise displays an interest in Nigeria.
An associate member shall be entitled to be represented by one delegate at the General Assembly.
Any associate member in attendance or represented at the General Assembly by a delegate shall be entitled to vote but not be voted for in elections for the posts on the Executive Committee (including that of Chair). A vote for the position of Chair must be exercised in person at the General Assembly.
Honorary Members
The Executive Committee of the Association reserves the right to bestow Honorary Membership of the Association upon individuals at its discretion.
Honorary Members will be individuals and may be drawn from the following:
- Officials of the Nigeria High Commission;
- Nigerian officials of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London;
- Nigerian officials of other Nigerian/international organisations in UK;
- Any other persons as deemed fit by the Executive Committee.
An Honorary Member of the Association shall be entitled to attend the General
Assembly provided that he attends in person. An Honorary member is not entitled to transfer or delegate this right of attendance at the General Assembly to another.
An Honorary Member of the Association shall be entitled to participate in any debate or discussion but shall not be entitled to vote at the General Assembly either in person or by proxy on any matter.
PATRON
The Association shall have a Patron or Patrons who shall be individuals of high standing and reputation appointed from time to time at the General Assembly.
In addition to specific responsibilities assigned to the Patron(s) under this Constitution, the Patron(s) shall exercise (in an independent manner) a supervisory, advisory and pastoral role in relation to the Organisation with a view to ensuring good order and relations in it, and that the Organisation achieves its objectives.
Nominations for Patrons to be considered for appointment at the General Assembly may come from any member and must be conveyed to the General Secretary of the Association at least 21 days prior to the General Assembly and publicised by him to all Members of the Association at least 14 days prior to the General Assembly.
All members shall then have the right to indicate their support or otherwise in writingto the General Secretary prior to the General Assembly, who, having collated theviews expressed to him, together with the Chair, Vice Chair and Legal Advisor, shallfairly assess the level of support for each individual nomination and decide how manypositions for Patron(s) exist.
At the General Assembly, the nominee(s) with the most support shall berecommended for appointment as Patron(s) to the General Assembly by theChairman and such recommendation shall be accepted by the General Assembly andthe nominee(s) thereby appointed as Patron(s) by the General Assembly.
A Patron of the Association shall not have the right to vote at General Assembly on any issue.
