SECTION 1 NAME:
This UNION shall be known and addressed as “BREAD
DEALERS ASSOCIATION. The Union is comprising of all the bread sellers present
in Ebonyi State.
PRESENTATION:
The Bread Dealers Association hereinafter referred to
as “An Organization shall be purely a Social and humanitarian Union” having no
political aim and objectives whatsoever. The conduct of her affairs shall be
governed by Rules and Regulations set out hereunder.
SECTION 2:
AIMS & OBJECTIVE
(a) To
render help to members at incidents of death, serious sickness or other
misfortunes that may render a member helpless.
(b) To
attend Social gatherings like Wedding Ceremonies, or any such occasions at the
invitation by any member/members, including Send-off-Parties for members on
transfer to other towns.
(c) To
embark on Projects and re-constructions.
(d) To
raise funds through Levies, donations and Periodic Contributions from members
in other to achieve our aims.
N.B. FOR
SECTION 2(A) ABOVE, A COMPULSORY LEVY OF N1000.00 IS HEREBY CREATED AND IS
EXPENDED AS PER INDICATION ON SECTION LAID DOWN IN THE CONSTITUTION CONCERNING
THE TYPE OF MISFORTUNE SUFFERED BY THE MEMBER.
SECTION
3: MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership
shall be on registration with the prescribed fees and is opened to all Bread
Dealers in Ebonyi State.
(b) Recommended
Registration fees for Admitting New Members:
i. A
person coming to be a member is to pay a registration fee of N500.00 (five
hundred naira) only.
ii. Every
newly admitted member must pay a compulsory levy of N850
iii. He
or She must buy membership card and constitution regulating the Union at the
current price at the time of registering such member.
v. The
Person must pay monthly dues of N50.00 in the month of his or her admission.
SECTION
4: ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
Appointment
of Officials: The Union shall have
the following Officers:-
i. Chairman
ii. Vice
Chairman
iii. General
Secretary
iv. Assistant
G/Secretary
v. Treasurer
vi. Financial
Secretary
vii. Joint
Auditors
viii. Provosts
ix. Patrons
x.
P.R.O (Two)
xi.
Finance Committee
·
The Officers of
the Union shall be elected and shall hold office for four years.
·
Out-going
Officers shall be eligible for re-election.
·
At the death or
resignation of any officer, there shall be a bye-election to fill the post.
i.
The union shall
not be bound by the action of any officer otherwise than in the performance of
his duties and the scope of his/her authority.
ii.
In this way,
Officers shall be liable for any acts of theirs otherwise, null and void (ultra
vires).
iii. The
Chairman or any other authorized officer who may preside over a meeting shall
have a limited veto power as may be stipulated.
All Officers Shall be Those Who Can Read and
Write
Section 5: Duties
of Officers:
A. The Chairman:
i. The Chairman shall preside over the general meetings and
the executive meetings of the Union.
ii. He shall decide points of order and maintain orders at
meetings
iii. He shall ensure that the meeting is properly constituted.
iv. He shall discipline erring members.
v. He shall use a casting vote in the event of a tie during
voting.
vi. He shall announce the results of any motion put to vote.
vii. He is to announce adjournment after meetings full deliberation.
viii. He countersigns minutes of previous meetings full deliberation.
ix. Also, he countersigns any payment voucher or vouches prepared
by financial Secretary.
3. THE VICE CHAIRMAN
The Vice
Chairman shall perform the functions of the chairman in the absence of the
chairman.
C. THE GENERAL
SECRETARY
i. The general secretary shall be in charge of the Union’s
Administration.
ii. He or She shall keep records of the proceedings of the
Union’s meetings in the minutes book.
iii. He or She shall convene ordinary or extra- ordinary general
meetings or executive meetings at the absence of the Chairmen.
iv. He or She shall be responsible for the dispatch and receiving
of all the Union’s incoming and out-gong mails.
D. THE ASSISTANT GENERAL
SECRETARY
i. The assistant general secretary shall perform the
secretarial functions of the general secretary in the absence of the general
secretary.
ii. He or She shall take due instructions from the general
secretary.
E. THE TREASURER
The
Union’s treasury is an office of high integrity and trust. Only persons of
transparent, honesty and good financial background shall hold this office.
i. The
Treasurer shall receive the Union’s money.
ii. He
shall keep impress of not more than N5,000.00 and deposit all other Union’s
money with the Union’s bankers within 24 hours.
iii. He
shall make his book of account available for auditing at a reasonable notice.
iv. He
shall pay all dully signed vouchers by the Chairman and financial secretary.
v. He
shall countersign the receipt vouchers after the financial secretary for any
amount paid into the treasury.
F. THE FINANCIAL
SECRETARY
i. The
financial secretary shall keep accurate records of the Union’s income and
expenditure.
ii. He
shall maintain a cash book.
iii.
He shall pay all
monies collected into treasury within 24 hours.
iv.
He shall payment
vouchers for all expenditures of the Union’s vouchers of which he should sign
and countersigned of the Union’s vouchers of which he should sign and
countersigned by the Chairman.
v.
His books of
account shall be audited annually.
vi.
He shall present
periodic statement of the Union’s finance showing income and expenditure.
G. JOINT AUDITORS
The Union shall have joint auditors not less than two:
i.
They shall be
appointed at the floor of the Union’s general meetings.
ii.
Unlike other
officers, they shall hold office only for the period they are carrying out
their investigations:
iii.
Any officer of
the union shall not qualify for appointment as auditor.
H. PROVOSTS:-
i. The Provosts shall be the Union’s
steward
ii. They shall help the Chairman in
maintaining order at meetings.
iii. They shall be the circular bearers.
iv. The
numerical strength of Provosts shall be determined by the house.
v. They
shall arrange seats for meetings before 10.00am
ADDITIONAL ORDER NO. 1
The
Provosts’ Failure To Perform As Directed On This Section 6, Particularly
Additional Assignment No.V Above Should Be Regarded As Negligence Of Duty And
Is Punishable Under Section 14, No.1
1. PATRONS:-
i. The
patrons shall be the advisers of the Union
ii. They
shall render every help to ensure the Union’s continuous existence and
progress.
P.R.O
Usually two members. They
are Public Relation Officers.
FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Finance Committee comprises of five (5) members. The manage
the Union’s Finance, (See attached copies) for more details.
SECTION 6: MEETINGS:
i. The Union shall discuss its affairs at meeting of her
members. The meeting my be Ordinary General or Extra-Ordinary emergency general
types.
ii. Ordinary general meetings shall be held monthly in the third
Sunday of each Calendar months.
iii. Extra- Ordinary/ Emergency general meeting shall only hold
when needed.
QUORUM:
iv. Quorum for Ordinary General meeting is based
on time. In this case 10.00am is our quorum for general meeting, while one quarter
number of the members present shall form quorum in the case of emergency
general meeting.
v. The Union shall have one specific place of
meeting.
vi. Ordinary general meetings shall start by
10.00am prompt of each day of the meeting, Time for starting extra-ordinary
general meeting shall be determined by the nature of the emergency.
SECTION 7: RESOLUTIONS:
DECISION OF THE UNION SHALL BE BY RESOLUTIONS
a. SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS
i. All
resolutions involving the expenditure of the Union’s money
ii. All
resolutions involving an amendment of the regulation of the Union.
iii. All
resolution requiring the impeachment of an officer of the Union.
iv. Other
resolution that might subsequently be classified as such.
B. ORDINARY
RESOLUTIONS:
Any resolutions of the Union’s meeting otherwise than
as in (A) above.
C. VOTING
Voting on resolutions shall be on raising of hands or
by secret voting in favour of the motion.
D. DEBATES:
i. The
business of the Union shall be conducted in common Language (Igbo And English
language).
ii. It
shall be prerogative of the chairman to determine the order of business.
iii. Equal
opportunity shall be given to every one during debate.
iv. The
Chairman shall have power to terminate a member’s contribution, during debate
on points of order or irrelevant.
v. It
shall be the responsibility of the Chairman of the Union to announce the
conclusion of a debate on any issue and will thereafter announce the decision
taken either unanimously or by voting.
SECTION 8: FUNDS
The Union’s source of
fund shall comprise the following:-
i. Registration
fee ii. Monthly dues
iii. Donations iv. Levies, including sick Peoples funds
v. Fines vi. Renting of Union’s properties.
SECTION 9: BENEFITS
Membership
of the union attracts the following benefits:-
1. HOSPITALIZATION BENEFIT & DEATH BENEFIT
A.
Hospitalization Benefit:
When
an active and financial member becomes seriously sick and is admitted, e.g
GIVEN BED IN THE HOSPITAL, the Union will visit him or her in the hospital with
a Purse of N10,000 (Ten Thousand naira) only.
To this effect, it is
the opinion of the Constitutional Committee Reviewers that a SICK PEOPLES FUND
of N500.00 payable yearly be created and
henceforth this new ORDER becomes operative after the approval of this
constitution; every members will be paying N500,00 yearly to help off-set the
above expenses (HOSPITALIZATION EXPENSES).
B. Death Benefit
i.
The Union will
arrange for light entertainment to the Parents Body conveying any dead-members
body home.
ii.
The Union will
attend to the burial of a male dead member or dead member’s wife with 2(two)
cartons of beer and 2(two) crates of mineral and a sympathy purse of N10,000.00
(Ten thousand naira) to be given to the deceased dependents.
iii.
If a member’s
registered Child dies, a burial Right of (2) two cartons of beer, (2) two
crates of mineral and a sympathy purse of N3,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) lonely
would be presented to the bereaved family by the Union.
iv.
In the event of a
relation of the deceased wishing to bury a dead member one day after the day of
conveying the corpse home the Union will drop two members to witness the
burial.
v.
The two members
to be dropped would be selected thus:-
One from the Community of the deceased while the other
from any Community bread dealers association.
vi. Transport
Fare of The Dropped Members:
A total sum of N2,000.00 would be given to the
two members dropped for their journey back to
Abakaliki
vii. Penalty For Refusing To Stay Behind As
Directed:
Any member dropped as directed above, Section 10B (iv)
page 8, who happens to refuse the directive to stay and witness the burial
without valid reason, and/or happens to dodge away without excuse, MUST pay a
fine of N500.00.
Viii. Burial levy
A. If an adult-member dies, be the person male or female, the
burial Levy is N500.00; that is, every member will contribute the sum of
N500.00 instantly.
B. If a member’s registered child dies, a burial levy of N200.00
is automatically created.
DEDUCTION OF DEBTS FROM BENEFITS
Ix. The Union reserves the right to deduct any amount owed by the
deceased before his or her death from his/her Right or benefits.
N.B THIS SECTION 10B, ITEM NO (IX) IS APPLICABLE TO ITEM NO. II
ABOVE; SECTION 11A, ITEM NO VII; AND SECTION 11B, ITEM III.
WAKE-KEEPING
C. All functions of wake-keeping will be done generally
with the members of Bread Union Association.
Condolence visit:
x. In case a member loses his or her mother or father or
immediate brother or sister who has not
married that warrants condolence visit the Union will pay Condolence Visit to
the bereaved with the following:-
2 Cartons of beer, 2 creates of malt and a sympathy purse
of N1,000.00 The visit may be on a
separate day the Union may determine.
ADDITIONAL LAW NO.2
xi. TO OFF-SET THE ABOVE
EXPENSES, CONDOLENCE LEVY OF N500.00 IS HEREBY CREATED FOR APPROVAL TO BE PAID
BY EVERY MEMBER WHENEVER APPLICABLE.
SECTION 11: INVITATION:-
A. Wedding – the Union shall be invited in writing with the
following:-
(i) One carton
of Star beer (ii) some kola-nuts
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE WEDDING:
i.
Every member
shall contribute the sum of N200.00
ii.
The Union being
the Invitee must be given at least one month notice.
iii.
The celebrant
will reserve the head of the goat or alternatively meat seizing head of a
he-goat killed for the occasion to Bread dealers association with one carton of
beer, one crate of mineral and a cooler of cooked rice.
iv.
A member shall
qualify to invite the members to such occasion only if he or she has been a
financial member for six months or above
v.
The Union shall
not hold ceremonies more than once a month.
vi.
Every member must
ensure that he or she pays his or her levy before the occasion of the
invitation.
vii.
The sum of
N5,000.00 will be given as a Right to the Celebrant on the day of the occasion,
whereas the balance of the levy collected (if any) goes to the Union’s Purse.
N. B. IF THE CELEBRANT OWES THE UNION ANY AMOUNT AT
ALL, SECTION 10(B) ITEM NO IX WILL BE APPLIED.
B. NAMING CEREMONY:
i. All performances, activities and regulation in Wedding
Ceremony are all the same in Child naming ceremony.
ii. We don’t attend any ceremony performed at home, unless the
Celebrant provides transport to convey the Union members to home for the
occasion.
iii. But in case the Celebrant invites us after he or she might
have come back to Abakaliki, we shall attend with the same amount stipulated in
Section 11 (A) item No. vii.
N. B. ALSO, IF THE
CELEBRANT OWES THE UNION ANY AMOUNT AT
ALL, SECTION 10(B) ITEM NO. IX APPLIES.
C. SEND- OFF-PARTY:
i. A meeting leaving the town without notice
will forfeit his or her Rights.
ii. Any member owing the Union shall forfeit his
or her Rights.
iii. Any member on transfer who fails to inform the
Union of his or her departure after two months of his or her sudden departure
will forfeit his/her sent-off benefits.
iv. EACH MEMBER SHALL CONTRIBUTE THE SUM OF
N100.00 TO JOIN BREAD DEALERS ASSOCIATION TO ORGANIZE SEND OFF PARTY FOR ANY
MEMBER LEAVING THE TOWN.
v. To qualify for Send-off benefit, affected
member Must have stayed in the Union for 12 Calendar months (1 year). Any
member on Transfer seeking Transfer Benefit but has not stayed in the Union for
1 year, automatically is disqualified.
vi. A qualified member for Transfer Benefit but is
not a Debtor, i.e. not owing the Union any amount would be given N2,000.00 or a
souvenir worth the amount.
vii. In addition, the Union will attend the
Send-off-Party with the following:-
(a) 2 Cartons of beer (b) 1 Carton of malt.
SECTION 12: ATTENDANCE & ABSENTEEISM/LATENESS
i.
Lateness and
Absenteeism from meetings would be against the interest of the Union and will
attract a fine of N20.00 and N50.00 respectively.
ii.
Members staying
outside the township shall not be penalized for Lateness.
iii.
A members shall
cease to be regarded as a financial member after three months of his or her
absence consecutively from meeting without any cause.
iv.
The member will
however be issued with a warning letter before he or she ceases to be a member.
v.
A RETURNEE MEMBER
WHO HAD EARLIER RECEIVED THE UNION’S WARNING LETTER BUT FAILS T RETURN AFTER
TWO MONTHS, SHALL RE-REGISTER WITH THE SUM OF N5,000.00 AND PAY ALL THE MONTHLY
DUES AND LEVIES OWED BY HIM OR HER BEFORE HE OR SHE CEASES TO ATTEND THE
MEETING.
vi.
Lateness starts
to count immediately after opening prayer.
SECTION 13: DISCIPLINE
ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNION MUST SHOW REASONABLE MATURITY
IN COMPLYING WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE UNION:
i.
Any two members
who fight in the meeting will deposit N200.00 with one bottle of hot drink
each. After judgment the guilty member should forfeit his or her N200.00 with
the bottle of hot drink deposited to the Union whereas, the other member that
is not guilty will only forfeit the hot drink, the N200.00 deposited would be
refunded.
ii.
Any member who
tells lies in the meeting should be liable to a fine of N50.00
iii.
Any member who
leaves the meeting or any place of gathering without valid permission form the
authority would pay a fine of N50.00
iv.
Any member who
unnecessarily interrupts a member while contributing to a debate in the meeting
shall pay a fine of N100.00
v.
Any member who
takes a fellow member to Mbano, police or court without first reporting the
matter to the Union for possible settlement shall be liable to a fine of N1,000
(One thousand Naira) only.
vi.
Any member who
first assaults or insults a fellow member during meeting or at a place of
gathering shall pay a fine of N200.00
vii.
Noise making
attracts a fine of N10.00.
viii.
Any member found guilty of stealing, after due
conviction and punishment by the government would be expelled from the Union.
ix.
Our Union will
not entertain any criminal case from any member BAILABLE OFFENCE.
x.
However, if our
member happens to have a police-care that warrants bailing, we will make sure
we help and bail the member.
SMOKERS,
SNUFFERS AND KOLA NUT EATERS:
xi.
Smokers, Snuffers
and Kola nut eaters in the meeting while the Union is deliberating would be
liable to a fine of N10.00.
SECTION 14:
ABUSE OF OFFICERS AND OR OFFICE:
i.
NEGLIGENCE OF
DUTY
Negligence of duty either intentional, unintentional
or by annoyance attracts a fine of N100.00.
ii.
REFUSAL TO ACCEPT
POST OR DUTY:
Any member who refuses to accept any
duty appointed or elected by the Union shall pay a fine of N100.00
iii.
GUILTY OF ABUSING
OFFICER:
Any member convicted guilty of abusing any of the
officers would be liable to a fine of N50.00. On the other hand any officer who
insults or abuses a member unnecessarily will be liable to a fine of N50.00.
iv. Official
victimization or intimidate any member with his or her post
shall be liable to a fine of N50.00.
v. GUILTY
OF POOR PERFORMANCE:
If
any officer or all the officers is/are proved guilty of poor performance, inefficiency, wrong doing,
fraudulent and conspiracy; a vote of NO confidence shall be move and passed by
not less than half of members who are present in the meeting.
SECTION 15:
TRUSTEES:
(a) The
Trustees should be Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
(b) The
Trustees shall therefore sign all withdrawals from the Union’s Bank Accounts.
i. In the event of
unavailability of the three approval Trustees, any two of the trustees
available can sign and withdraw money from the Union’s Bank account.
ii. A resolution
approving the expenditure that will need the withdrawal of the Union’s money
from the bank will be determined in the general meeting or in the emergency
general meeting.
(c) BANKERS:
The Union shall have a bank account to be operated on her
behalf by the Union’s Trustees.
(d) First Bank PLc is accepted to be the Union’s Bankers.
SECTION 16: MISCELLANEOUS:
DEATH OF A NON-MEMBER:
(A) In the event of the death of a non-member of this Union who is
an indigence of bread dealers association residing in Abakaliki Zone, no member
of this Union should attend his or her funeral, help to covey his or her corpse
home or bury him or her funeral, help to covey his or her corpse home or bury
him or her.
(B) If a non registered child of a member dies or non-registered
wife of a member dies, the Union will join bread dealers in the burial of the
rendered by bread dealers association.
(C) CEREMONIE
Similarly, no member of this Union should attend
wedding, naming or any form of ceremony of a bread dealers association but is not a member of this Union.
(D) HELP OR ASSISTANCE
If a non-member of this bread dealers association is
involved in police case, court case, loss of job or any other type of
misfortune, No member of this union should help him or her in any form.
PENALTY FOR
CONTRAVENING SECTION 16 ITEMS A TO D
Any member of this Union who contravenes any of this
Section 16 item Nos. A, B, C and D in this constitution would be liable to a
penalty or fine of N1000.00
SECTION 17:
AMENDMENT
A. i. This
Constitution shall be strictly adhered to and shall be subject to review or amendment from time to time, or when necessary.
ii. This document have been read,
scrutinized, debated, and unanimously
adopted as the constitution of Bread Dealers Association
Signed:
___________________ _________________
Executive Chairman
General Secretary