UCN Constitution

A. There shall be an association of men to be known as “THE ULTIMATE CIRCLE OF NIGERIA”, which for short is hereinafter referred to as “The Club”.

B. The association shall be a social club registered under the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act, CAP. 98 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

• To unite members and strengthen the friendship and brotherhood among them.
• To create a forum for mutual exchange of ideas and the promotion of the progress of members.
• To cultivate the spirit of mutual assistance and co-operation among all members.
• To encourage the participation of members in the area of business and industry, and assist members in any way possible to achieve self-appointed goals deemed worthy by the club.
• To support lawful actions calculated to be in the interest of, and for the protection of, members and their welfare generally.
• To encourage the spirit of philanthropy and willingness to share possessions (material and/or spiritual) with other members of the community who may not be so well endowed.
• To encourage members to keep abreast of happenings in the country through the organization of discussions, lectures, symposia and debates.
• To encourage recreation and relation among members and their families through joint sponsorship of parties, picnics, travel, tours and group holidays.
• To pursue such other objectives that are lawful and not inconsistent with the spirit and practice of a prosperous and progressive club.

A. The foundation members of the club shall be limited to the 25 members as at inauguration.

C. Any new member must be sponsored by at least two (2) members who have been members for no less than two years.

D. Subject to Section C above, any new membership must be confirmed by majority decision at an Annual General Meeting.

B. Membership shall be open to all Nigerians provided that such are:

1. Men above 25 years of age.
2. Literate to at least school certificate level.
3. Disciplined in mind and in deed.
4. Usefully engaged in any aspect of lawful human endeavour.

A. Officers of the Club

1. President
2. Vice-President
3. General Secretary
4. Assistant General Secretary
5. Treasurer
6. Financial Secretary
7. Social Secretary
8. Publicity Secretary
9. Chief Whip
10. Auditor
11. One Ex-Officio Member
12. Legal Adviser (Non-elective)
13. Immediate Past President

B. Tenure

The President shall hold office for a period not exceeding two years. This restriction shall not apply to other officers of the club.

A. The Officers of the club shall constitute the Executive Committee, but any member of the club may at any time be co-opted.

B. The Executive Committee shall take charge of all affairs of the club between meetings and shall meet at least once in six weeks at a venue and time decided by the President in consultation with other members of the committee.

A. The President

• Head of the club; chairs any meeting where present.
• Directs the affairs of the club and attends to all correspondence jointly with the General Secretary.
• May direct the General Secretary to summon Executive Committee, General and Annual General Meetings.
• May direct the summoning of an Emergency General Meeting when the occasion arises.
• May enter into agreements on behalf of the club after due consultation with the Executive Committee.
• Signatory to the club's bank account.
• Co-ordinates all Standing and Ad-hoc Committees.

B. The Vice-Presidents

• Deputize for the President when absent and assist in his duties.
• Head the Welfare Committee.
• Assume other duties assigned by the President, Executive Committee or General Meeting.

C. The General Secretary

• In charge of all club correspondence, in consultation with the President.
• Keeps records of correspondence, minutes and general activities.
• Disseminates information and summons meetings on the instruction of the President.
• Signatory to the club's account; keeps an imprest account with accurate expenditure records.
• Processes prospective-member applications and advises the Executive Committee through the President.
• Chairs any Ad-hoc Committee on membership.

D. The Assistant General Secretary

• Performs the General Secretary's duties whenever absent and assists as assigned.
• Performs duties delegated by the President, Executive Committee or General Meeting.

E. The Social Secretary

• Plans, organizes and executes all social activities after Executive Committee approval.
• Organizes philanthropic activities after approval by the Executive Committee and General Meeting.
• Chairs the Social Committee; ensures members' comfort at social gatherings.
• Represents the club at social engagements alongside the President or General Secretary.

F. The Publicity Secretary

• Responsible for publicising programmes and activities of the club.
• Main link with the media; materials vetted by the President (or Vice-President).
• Chairs the Publicity Committee.
• Organizes lectures, symposia and debates aimed at boosting the club's image.
• Organizes an annual MEDIA FORUM with budget passed for approval in the first quarter.

G. The Treasurer

• Custodian of all club funds; lodges monies into the club account within one week of receipt.
• Announces the financial position at every meeting.
• Bank signatory signing with the President or General Secretary.
• Keeps cheque books, promissory notes and monetary documents.
• Disburses monies as approved; chairs the Finance Committee.

H. The Financial Secretary

• Collects and receipts all cash and cheques from members and donors.
• Maintains accurate, up-to-date records of all monies collected.
• Hands over all collections to the Treasurer before close of meeting.

I. The Chief Whip

• Assists the President in maintaining discipline, especially during meetings.
• May impose levies and fines to check aberrant behaviour and raise funds.
• Chairs the Disciplinary Committee whenever constituted.

J. The Auditor

• Has unrestricted access to all books and accounts.
• Examines balance sheets, receipts and expenditure, verifying them with vouchers.
• Carries out these functions at least quarterly.
• Presents audited accounts at the Annual General Meeting.

K. The Legal Adviser

Appointed at the beginning of each year. If a non-member, a nominal fee fixed by the General Meeting is paid as honorarium.

A. The Standing Committees

1. Welfare Committee
2. Social Committee
3. Finance and Economic Ventures Committee
4. Publicity Committee
5. Disciplinary Committee
6. Membership Committee

B. Composition & Functions (summary)

• Welfare Committee — chaired by the Vice-President; meets quarterly; caters to members' welfare and mutual-help needs.
• Social Committee — chaired by the Social Secretary plus four others; administers all social activities.
• Finance & Economic Ventures Committee — Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Auditor and three appointees; prepares the annual budget and advises on finances and ventures.
• Publicity Committee — chaired by the Publicity Secretary with two others; enhances the club's image and runs the annual media forum.
• Disciplinary Committee — Chief Whip as Chairman, with the Legal Adviser and three appointees; evaluates indiscipline cases and recommends sanctions.
• Membership Committee — five members headed by a Past President; processes applications per Article III and recommends admissions.

The club shall meet regularly at least six times a year, or at such frequency as determined at the Annual General Meeting. Venue, date and time are confirmed at the preceding meeting. The new President hosts the first Ordinary General Meeting after an AGM. The January meeting every year is the Annual General Meeting, where elections are held and amendments made — hosted at a neutral venue.

A. Notice for an Executive Committee Meeting shall be given not less than three weeks before the meeting; for an emergency, enough notice to form a quorum suffices.

B. Notice for a General Meeting shall be given not less than four weeks before; one week is adequate for an emergency.

C. Non-receipt of a duly sent notice does not invalidate proceedings provided a quorum was formed.

The club appoints five (5) Registered Trustees as custodians of all property, appointed at a specially convened General Meeting. The Pioneer President chairs the Board; the Pioneer Secretary and three appointed members sit on it. Trustees may hold office for life but cease upon resignation, removal, insanity, bankruptcy, conviction for dishonesty, or ceasing to reside in Nigeria. Vacancies are filled at a General Meeting.

The club has a common Seal kept in the custody of the General Secretary, produced when required for use by the Trustees. All documents executed by the Trustees are signed and sealed with the common Seal.

Annual subscription is fixed at the Annual General Meeting and payable within the year, due no later than the end of its first half. The Executive Committee may impose levies for special purposes. All monies are deposited in a bank appointed at a General Meeting; signatories are the Treasurer together with either the President or the General Secretary.

• Executive Committee — 4 members (President or General Secretary inclusive).
• Annual General Meeting — 50% of total membership (nearest whole number).
• Ordinary General Meeting — 30% of total membership.
• Extraordinary General Meeting — 40% of total membership.
• Standing Committees — 50% of committee membership.

If quorum fails on two consecutive meetings, any number of persons present and duly accredited constitutes the quorum.

All members are expected to maintain the highest degree of discipline at all times. Indiscipline and anti-club activities — including drunkenness, persistent absenteeism, lateness and disrespect for properly constituted authority — shall not be condoned. A member disciplined for wrongdoing may appeal in writing through the General Secretary within 48 hours; the decision of the subsequent General Meeting is final and binding.

Elections into elective offices are conducted at the Annual General Meeting following dissolution of the house. An Electoral Officer and two Returning Officers are elected from financial members; they neither contest nor campaign. Nominations require sponsorship by two financial members and must be filed with the Electoral Officer not later than two weeks to the AGM. Campaigning opens two weeks before the AGM, must be free of slander and character assassination, and ceases once the AGM is declared open. Bye-elections follow the same procedures.

Notice of amendment must reach the General Secretary not less than eight (8) weeks before an AGM, moved by a financial member and seconded by another. Proposed amendments are circulated at least six (6) weeks before the meeting. For an amendment to succeed it must be supported by not less than two-thirds of members present at the AGM.

The Bye-Laws codify the day-to-day running of the club and are read and applied along with the Constitution, which remains the supreme law. Where any bye-law conflicts with the Constitution, the latter takes precedence. Bye-laws may only be amended by two-thirds of members present at an Ordinary General Meeting.