THE STANDARD CONSTITUTION OF YOUNG AFRICAN WRITERS LEAGUE [THE YOUNG LEAGUE]
YOUNG AFRICAN WRITERS
LEAGUE
Preamble
Young African Writers
League [the Young League] shall be an organization that is based on the tents
of equity and social justice. We the members of Young African Writers League (the Young
League), having firmly resolved to form an organization committed to the
general interest of each member, for the development of African in particular
and the world at large. And also to
enhance co-operation, educational excellence, good writing skills, etc among
African youths, especially young African writers or those aiming to be. We also
resolve to promote the welfare of the members and all African youths across African
countries and beyond through promotion of qualitative education and equal
educational opportunity to all via legitimate means. We shall achieve these through advocacy,
lobbying, educational awareness, socialization and orientation. We shall uphold
ideal of freedom, social justice, equity and fraternity. This noble
organization was founded by Eze Andrew Oforma in August, 2014. We the members
will not deviate from philosophical aim behind the formation of this noble
forum which is to promote education in Africa and beyond. Having being resolved
these we unanimously give to ourselves the following constitutional provisions:
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Citation
1[1] This constitution shall be known
as, and called the constitution of Young African Writers League; here in after
referred as the constitution
Name
[2] This organization shall be known, called and addressed as
Young African Writers League or the Young League in a short form.
SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION;
2[1] This constitution is supreme and its
provision shall have a binding force on the bodies, authorities and persons
under this organization.
[2] The
organization of Young African Writers League shall not be governed, nor shall
person or group of persons take control of the government of this organization
or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this
constitution.
[3] If any other law or decision of
anybody, authority (ies) or person (s) under this organization is inconsistent
with the provision of this constitution, the constitution shall prevail and
such other law(s) or decision[s] shall be null and void of no legal affect.
[4] Subject to the provisions of the
Constitution of all African countries where this organization operates, school
rules and regulations, this constitution shall have abiding force on all the
members, officials and organs of the Young League.
[5] The motto of the
Young League shall be “to Inform and to Educate.”
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
3
[1] It shall be the duties and
responsibilities of all members of the Young League to conform to, project,
promote and to observe the following fundamental aims and objectives of our
noble organization which shall being known as “the Ten Pillars of the Young League.” This are:
a)
To
promote education among African Youths
b)
To
promote good writing skill among African Youths.
c)
To
provide forum for students to contribute towards the development of Africa and
the world at large
d)
To
ensure equal education opportunities to
all African youths irrespective of gender, religion or race
e)
To
create a platform where African youths can interact academically, socially,
politically and otherwise
f)
To
divert the attention of youths from negative issues to positive issues through
educational sanitization and socialization
g)
To
join hands with the government in promoting and creating awareness among youths
on the important of education
h)
To
join hands with government agencies in their fight against book piracy in
Africa and the world at large. For example, in Nigeria the organization shall
pattern with Nigerian Copyright Commission in her fight against book piracy in
higher institutions of learning and beyond
i)
To
eradicate school dropout and child labour in Africa
j)
To
train future world writers and leaders.
CHAPTER TWO
MEMBERSHIP, RIGHTS AND DUTIES
4[1] The membership of this
organization is voluntary.
[2] Membership is open to those who
are from Africa, who are writers or want to be and they must be youths.
[3] A person who wishes to be a
member of this organization must;
[a] Be a person of good character and
sound mind
[b] Must abide by the code of conducts
that govern this organization.
5[1] Any qualified person who is not at
the inception of this organization and wishes to join shall be free in
fulfilling the following conditions;
[a] shall be
qualified subject to the provision of chapter two, section 4 [ 1, 2, 3a, 3b].
[b] Shall pay the
sum of 200 naira or equivalent depending on the monetary value of the country
for registration form. And also pay for membership Identification Card [i.e. ID
card] depending on the production cost.
6[1] any member who wishes to renounce
his/her membership shall be free to do so by making a formal written statement to the secretary
of the organization which the secretary are obliged to table it to the general
assembly or general meeting.
7[i] Membership shall be automatically
terminate if;
[a] the person has
shown an act that is contrary to the aims behind this noble organization
[b] involve in any
anti-human, promotion of unequal educational opportunity to all African
children and other inhuman activities.
8 [1] The organization shall have a
patron and matron and other advisory bodies.
[2] They shall be
appointed by the executive council subjected to confirmation by the general
assembly.
Rights/Benefits of Members
9 [1] Subject to the provisions of this constitution, every member
shall:
a)
Be
entitled to the use and enjoyment of every facility of the Young League,
without discrimination
b)
Be
entitle to participate in all general meetings and functions organized by the
organization
c)
Be
entitled to vote and be voted for during the organizational election
d)
Upon
the demise of any member the organization shall pay tribute to the parent [s]
of the decease.
DUTIES:
10 [1] It is the
responsibility of every members of the Young League to perform the following
duties:
a) to protect the constitution of this
organization by being subject to its provisions;
b) to be education activists;
c) actively participate in meetings and
functions organized and / or recognized by the organization;
d) and perform any other duties that may
be assigned to him/her from time to time in accordance with the provisions of
this constitution for the welfare and progress of African youths. Any member
who fails to perform any of these duties or others as may be assigned to
him/her without a cogent reason(s) shall be liable to his/her action.
BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
11[1] The organization
shall solicit for financial aids from Government, International Organizations,
individuals who made their money through legitimate means and other Corporate Bodies.
This is to enable the organization cope up financially in their educational
advocacy across African continent and beyond. And also to help those who cannot
afford the cost of publication to publish their ideas.
12[1] The organization shall bank her
money
[2] The name of the organization
account shall be Young African Writers League
[3] The authorized signatories of the
association account shall be the president, the financial secretary and the
treasurer.
[4] Condition for withdrawal of the
organizational money shall be at least two persons out of the signatories.
[5] An Audit committee shall exercise its
function in respect of auditing the organization account as prescribed by the
constitution.
[6] The signatories shall be
responsible and answerable to any irregularity, misappropriation of the
organization account.
CHAPTER THREE
MEEETING
13 [1] The general meeting of all
members of the organization which shall be known as the General Assembly across
all African countries shall be annually except in emergency situation or
extra-ordinary session
[2] The time and venue of the meeting shall be determined by
the members of the Executive.
EMERGENCY
14 [1] The organization shall call for
an urgent meeting in emergency cases if there is need for it.
[2] The information on any meeting shall be announced using
appropriate means of communication.
15 [1] The provision of section 13 subsection 1 is only applied to the
General Assembly. This means that each
branch of the organization in every African countries can organization meeting
whenever it is convenient for them but shall have meeting not less than five
times yearly.
CHAPTER FOUR
ELECTION
16 [1] Subject to the provisions of
this constitution, there shall be an annual general election of the organization.
Time of the Election
[2] The general election shall be held annually which shall
be at the General Assembly meeting.
DURATION OF AN OFFICE
[3] The life span of any office shall be one year tenure.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION
[4] There shall be non established electoral commission that
shall be responsible for the conduct of the organization election. Those that
shall be in charge of the election shall be appointed by the members of the
organization based on the principle of equity and fairness.
ELECTORAL REGULATION
[5] All members of the Young League are subjected
or expected to abide by the following electoral regulations to the letter. Any
contrary act or behavior will attract sanction. The electoral regulations are;
a)
There
shall be no partisan politics or open campaign.
b)
There
shall be selling and buying of nomination form, which shall be determined by
the executives.
c)
Only
the registered members shall be legible to vote and to be voted for
d)
Voting
shall be by secret ballot
e)
Counting
of votes shall commence immediately after each voting and the result shall be
recorded
f)
The
overall result of the election shall be announced by the presiding officer
immediately after the voting exercises.
DISQUALIFICATION
[2] No person shall
qualify for election or holding the organization’s office, if he or she:
a ] involves in
any human rights violation especially as it pertains child’s education.
b] is in disciplinary probation
c ] has been found guilty of
dishonesty, abuse of office or other serious misconduct in any of the branches.
INAUGURATION /HANDING OVER
17[1] Inauguration into elective post
shall take place after the election.
[2] The inauguration shall be organized
by members headed by the outgoing president
[3] The outgoing executives shall
hand over to the new ones on the day of inauguration.
[4] The outgoing officers shall
properly give account of their tenure on/ before the handover.
[5] However, any misappropriation and
embezzlement of fund shall be addressed before such inauguration /hand over
shall be accepted/ granted.
FUNCTIONS
18 [1] The organization shall periodically
holds social functions like visiting primary, secondary, and tertiary
institutions of learning in order to create education awareness on the need for
them to be positively minded in their academic enterprise because it pays. The
organization shall be donating books to school libraries on such visit. The
organization shall encourage youths on the need for them to write and also
teach them how to be a writer. The organization shall teach Africa youths to do
away with any pirated work or act of plagiarism. The organization shall periodically
organize seminars on good writing skills in which notable African writers will
be invited to talk to the African young writers and the potential writers.
These other numerous academic, community services and social functions.
19 [1] The organization shall attend book launch
ceremony of members upon the invitation.
[2] The organization has to pass
resolution on how to assist the persons financially in publication and
marketing of their books
[2] The organization shall honour the
best of three books written by members of the Young League yearly at her General
Assembly meeting which shall be called “the
Young League Books of the Year.”
MAGAZINE
20 [1] The organization shall produce magazine
yearly which shall be launched on the General Assembly meeting. The prominent
African writers and leaders, who are pro youths, youths’ admirers, education
activists, etc. shall be invited.
[2] Featuring in such magazine shall be
based on African affairs.
[3] Production shall be sponsored by
interested members, non members, governments, international bodies and other
corporate bodies.
CHAPTER FIVE
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE:
21 [1] An officer of this organization
shall be removed from an office in accordance with the provision of this
section.
[2] A person holding any office shall
be removed from an office;
[3] Whenever an allegation of gross
misconduct is leveled against the person.
[4] Any of such allegations of
misconduct should be through investigated and scrutinized and the concerns
persons convicted before the dismissal action is observed.
[5] The organization shall set-up an
investigation committee to uproot such allegations
[6] The guilty officer shall be
prosecuted by the committee and charged according to his/her damages.
CHAPTER SIX
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND THEIR
DUTIES
The Coordinator:
22. The coordinator shall perform the
following functions:
a)
Preside
over all general and executive meeting including the emergency meetings
b)
Shall
be responsible for the proper administration of the organization.
c)
Shall
live life of emulation and admiration
d)
Shall
be adequately monitory all the activities of different branch
e)
Shall
consider African interest before his/her personal interest by rendering
essential services.
f)
Shall
be performing diplomatic functions like projecting and promoting the aims of
the organization to the world, visiting of schools across African countries to
encourage them to study hard and also to write.
g)
Shall
be one on the association signatories.
The Deputy Coordinator:
23. The vice president shall assist the
coordinator and act as president in the absent of the latter.
The secretary
24. The secretary shall:
a)
Perform
all the secretarial functions of the organization.
b)
Handle
and keep all the correspondences of the organization.
c)
Perform
other duties as may be given to him/her by the president.
d)
Shall
register newly admitted members
e)
Shall
be one of the organization signatories on financial and other documents.
Assistant secretary
25.
Assistant secretary shall
a)
Assist
the secretary and act as the secretary when he/she is absent.
b)
Be
responsible for keeping up-to-date and accurate registers of the members of the
association and attendances to meetings.
Financial secretary
26. The financial secretary shall:
a)
Ensure
proper recording of all the organization financial transactions.
b)
Receive
and record all money (i.e. income) of the organization.
c)
Shall
submit all the money collected to the treasurer within three days or pay it
into the association’s account within three days in absent of the treasurer.
d)
Shall
render financial account to the organization from time to time as may be
demanded by members.
e)
Shall
serve as one of the organization signatories on financial documents
Treasurer
27. The treasurer shall:
a)
Receive
from the financial secretary all money paid to the organization.
b)
Deposits
the organization money in his/her bank account within three days from the date
of receipt.
c)
Keep
an impress account of #2000.00 only.
d)
Shall
perform other duties as may be assigned to her by the president.
PRO (Public Relation Officer)
28. The public
relation officer shall
a) Make approved announcements to the
organization.
b) Shall paste information to various
strategic positions as regard to the date of meeting. Or through appropriate
mass media as regard to the activities of the organization.
The Sergeant
29. The sergeant shall be
the police arm of this organization and perform the following constitutional
duties;
a)
Shall
maintain order and disciple during meetings and other conventions of the
organization.
b)
Shall
appoint the next person to talk during the meetings.
c)
Shall
be responsible for arranging, sharing and organizing of anything that involves
the organization during the meeting and beyond.
Mode of conduct
30. Mode of conduct inside the meeting
[1] Misconducts inside the meeting shall attract sanction.
Such misconducts inside the meeting include; side discursion, interruption
during a speech presentation, uncontrolled argument, etc.
a)
The
sergeant shall caution noise makers or obstructionists and disobedience attracts
penalty.
b)
Absenteeism
is unwelcome.
c)
However,
any member that will absent him/herself from the meeting shall officially
inform the organization through a letter of excuse.
d)
Unnecessary/uncontrolled
argument during meeting is greatly undesirable and those concerned shall be
sanctioned.
e)
Fighting
during the meeting is highly prohibited. Any fight/attempt to fight shall be
charged, accordingly for image damaged.
31. Mode of conduct
outside meeting:
[1] Subjected to the provision of this constitution some gross
misconducts/bad behaviors like:
Ø Stealing
Ø Cultism
Ø Excessive drinking
Ø Human rights abuses
Ø Child labour
Ø Discrimination based on gender, race or religion
Ø Plagiarizism etc, is highly
prohibited
[2] Any member of the organization empirically found guilty
of any social vices shall be dismissed from the organization and punish
accordingly subject to the constitution of the country the act was committed
and this organization.
CHAPTER SEVEN
RESOLUTIONS AND AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION:
32 (1) In case
of any circumstance which may arise in the organization in the future which may
not be taken care of by the provisions of this constitution, a resolution must
be reached by members in good standing order on how to ratify and adopt it,
provided that such resolution does not contravene any provision of the noble
organizational constitution.
AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION:
33 [1] The motion for the amendment of
this constitution shall be moved in the general meeting of the organization and
approved by simply majority. But before any section is amended it must be
supported by two third [2/3] majority of the members present.
THIS CONSTITUTION WAS
ADOPTED BY THE MEMBERS PRESENT AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE ORGANIZATION HELD IN
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA PRECISELY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
AND ENDORSED BY THE FOUNDER, PATRON, AND
NATIONAL COORDINATORS.
v THE FOUNDER THE COORDINATOR
SIGNED … SIGNED …
EZE ANDREW OFORMA ATTAH NNAEMAKA
MELFORD
[THE CONTINENTAL
COORDINATOR] [THE
NATIONAL COORD.]
Comments
Post a Comment