CONSTITUTION OF THE IGBO WELFARE UNION

GLASGOW
 CONSTITUTION: IGBO WELFARE UNION, GLASGOW

1. NAME
The Union shall be known as the Igbo Welfare Union of Glasgow
(hereinafter referred to as the Igbo Union).

2. PURPOSES

 To promote community union and sense of belonging among ethnic

Igbos in Glasgow and its environs;

 To foster good relations, community participation and

collaboration with other communities and organisations;

 To provide a platform for the articulation and representation of

the interests of the Igbo community based in Glasgow and its
environs;

 To provide succour and support to members living within Glasgow

and surrounding communities, including the elderly, the sick, the
disabled, the bereaved, and young families;

 To promote awareness of the Igbo culture amongst children of

Igbo descent in the UK, whilst encouraging them to play their full
role in the British society;

 To further advance British cultural life by promoting Igbo history,

language, music, art, literature, and culture to the wider public;
  To provide a support network for poverty alleviation, health
education and disaster relief amongst disadvantaged and needy
communities, families and groups, particularly in Glasgow and
Igboland;

3. POWERS

In pursuance of the purposes outlined above, the Igbo Union shall

have powers:-

a) To form an Union that will:

i. Contribute to the development and implementation

of cultural and socio-economic policies and systems
that affect the Igbo community.

ii. Support the economic wellbeing and social welfare

of the members of the Igbo community in Glasgow
and environs.

iii. Seek appropriate access to funding and support.

iv. To set up an Igbo Centre for recreation and provision

of advice for the needy members of the Igbo
community. Such assistance and guidance will cover
issues relating to education, housing, welfare rights,
employment, health, translation/interpretation, etc.

v. To network with like-minded statutory and voluntary

sector agencies, government departments and
individuals at local, national and international levels.
 vi. To employ and pay person(s) to supervise, organise and
carry out the work of the Igbo Union.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Three categories of membership are envisaged; these are ordinary

membership; associate membership; and full membership.

a. Ordinary membership of the Igbo Union is open to:

i. All people of Igbo origin living within Glasgow and environs.

ii. All people that are related to an IGBO person by birth,

marriage or partnership.

b. Associate membership shall be open to non-Igbo people, not

covered by (aii) above, who are interested in furthering the work
of the Igbo Union.

c. Full membership is granted upon registration and payment of

dues. It is available only to those that qualify for ordinary
membership.

d. Failure to attend three consecutive meetings and/or pay the

contributions without reasonable excuse shall result in a lapse of
full membership and rights thereof.

e. Anyone wishing to reinstate a lapsed full membership shall reapply

through the Secretary.

f. A database shall be kept of all paid-up members.

5. RIGHTS, BENEFITS AND DUTIES

a. Rights and Benefits;

i) All members have the right to express their views freely and in
an orderly manner.
ii) A full member shall have one vote; ordinary and associate
members shall have no voting rights.
iii) No member other than a fully registered and paid-up one shall
be entitled to vote on any issue at any general meeting.
iv) Fully registered members shall have rights to the assets and
liabilities of the Union.
v) Fully registered members shall be entitled to membership
benefits provided they have been fully registered for a
minimum period of six months. These include:
 A visit on the birth of their own child (this particular
benefit is extended irrespective of length of registered
full membership).
 Conferment of ordinary membership of the Igbo Union on
their new born.
 A sum of five hundred pounds (£500.00) in the event of
their death; the Igbo Union shall also assist with burial
arrangements and organise a vigil as necessary.
 A sum of seventy-five pounds (£75.00) in the event of the
loss of a first-degree relative, specifically partner, father,
mother, son or daughter).
 A visit in the event of their marriage.
 Conferment of ordinary membership of the Igbo Union on
their new partner.
 A farewell visit if they are moving away from Glasgow or
its environs.
  A visit, with card/flower, if they are unwell and
hospitalised.

b. Duties

i. Abide by this constitution

ii. Attend and participate in Igbo Union activities
iii. Pay registration and membership dues.

6. MANAGEMENT OF THE UNION

The main organs of the Igbo Union shall include the general assembly,
the executive committee and adhoc committees that may be appointed
from time to time to execute specific tasks for the Union.

The general assembly is the primary organ of the Union and shall, if
properly constituted, have the powers to give effect, suspend or override
any aspect of this constitution.

The Executive committee shall be constituted by the general assemby

and vested with the mandate to exercise strategic and operational
leadership of the Union and execute its purposes. The Exco shall
comprise the following offices:

a. PATRON/MATRON: Shall act as the father/mother of the Igbo

Union in an advisory capacity; the post shall normally be reserved
for the oldest man/woman, agreeable to the majority of the fully
registered members.

b. CHAIRMAN: The chairman shall be elected as the leader and chief

spokesperson of the Union at a General meeting.
  Shall chair all meetings;
 Shall have responsibility for the overall delivery of the
Union’s objectives;
 Shall co-ordinate the activities of all other elected officers;
 Shall direct the Secretary to convene meetings;
 Shall act in concert with the Executive on any issues
involving the Igbo Union;
 Shall be a co-signatory to the bank account of the Igbo
Union.

c. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Shall be elected at the general meeting to

deputise and assist the Chairman in all his/her duties for the
Union.

 Shall chair meetings in the absence of the Chairman.

 Shall undertake duties as may be assigned by the
Chairman, including signing financial documents in absence
of the Chairman.

d. SECRETARY: Shall be elected at the general meeting to keep

records for the Union.

 Shall convene all meetings as directed by the Chairman;

 Shall take minutes of meetings and keep an accurate record
of monies collected and names of members in attendance;
 Shall assist the Chairman in the overall delivery of the
Union’s objectives;
 Shall receive all communications directed to the Union.

e. ASSISTANT SECRETARY: Shall be elected at the general

meeting to assist the Secretary in managing the secretariat of
the Igbo Union.
  Shall take minutes of meetings and keep an accurate record
of monies collected and names of members in attendance
in the absence of the Secretary;
 Shall support the Chairman and Secretary in preparing
necessary paperwork and documentation related to the
smooth conduct of Igbo Union business.

f. TREASURER: Shall be elected at the general meeting and be

responsible for safeguarding the finances of the Union.

 Shall be responsible for banking all monies collected at

meetings within two working days.
 Shall be co-signatory and have responsibility for all
payments in and out of the Igbo Union’s bank account. All
such payments must be notified to the Chairman, Secretary
and Financial Secretary for their records.
 Shall have custody of the cheque books and other such
documents.

g. FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Shall be elected at the general meeting

and be responsible for maintaining and reporting on the financial
position of the Union.

 Shall be responsible for collecting all dues and

contributions at meetings and handing over all monies
collected at the end of the meeting.
 Shall collaborate with the Treasurer to maintain
appropriate records of the Union’s finances.
 Shall be a co-signatory to the bank account of the Igbo
Union.
 Shall be responsible for providing periodic reports on the
Union’s financial position.
h. PUBLICITY SECRETARY: Shall be elected at the general meeting
to publicise the activities of the Igbo Union.

 Shall disseminate news and publications of the Igbo Union

and organize for the timely dissemination of news and
publications of other relevant organisations to the Union’s
Executive.

 Shall establish and maintain contacts with external bodies

and individuals.

 Shall gather and collate information with a view to

producing promotional material for the Union’s website
and other outlets.

 Shall arrange publicity for the Union’s activities through

appropriate print and broadcast media outlets.

i. SOCIAL SECRETARY: Shall be elected at the general meeting to

plan and manage social activities for Igbo Union.

 Shall head any ad-hoc committees that may need to be

formed to help stage major social events.

j. PROGRAM SECRETARY: Shall be elected at the general meeting

to develop yearly programme of activities for the Igbo Union.
 Shall work with other Executive members to boost
membership, interest and participation in the activities of
the Union.

 Shall develop programmes aimed at fostering good working

relationships with external organizations, local, national
and international.
  Shall arrange and co-ordinate public lectures, seminars,
educational fora and other activities in pursuance of Igbo
Union purposes.

k. COMMITTEES

The Chairman acting with the support of the general assembly

may from time to time appoint appropriate committees to
execute specific tasks for the Union, including the organisation of
Christmas parties, fundraising and cultural events, disaster relief
and poverty alleviation activities, health awareness campaigns,
elections and bye elections, constitution review etc.

7. ELECTION

Elections shall be held every two years into the Executive Committee of
the Union. These shall be overseen by an electoral committee set up by
the general assembly to ensure adherence to the following principles:

a. Only fully registered members are eligible to vote or to be voted

for.
b. A Returning Officer shall be appointed on the day of the election
that will have no voting powers.
c. Election to office is by a simple majority as determined by the
Returning Officer.
d. An Officer is eligible for re-election to a particular office for no
more than two consecutive terms.
e. The electoral committee shall also have responsibility for:
 i. Developing other electoral rules and processes for
approval by the general assembly;
ii. Disseminating all relevant information to the Union
membership regarding the election;
iii. Ensuring proper management and smooth conduct of the
election.

8. BYE ELECTIONS: Where an executive office becomes vacant following

the resignation of an elected official or any other reason, a bye
election shall be conducted during a general assembly by an ad hoc
committee appointed for this purpose.

9. FINANCES

a. The financial year of the Union shall run from 1 January to 31

December of each calendar year.
b. The main sources of the Union’s funds shall be the registration
fees, the regular contributions of members, and donations from
members and outside organisations.
c. A registration fee of £6.00 for individual members and £10 for
couples shall be due on the date of admission.
d. Student members and pensioners shall be admitted on the
payment of a concessionary registration fee of £4. Couples in this
category are required to pay a registration fee of £8.
d. An annual membership due of £40 shall be paid by individual
members; couples are required to pay £60 annually. This shall be
paid in no more than three instalments.
e. An annual membership due of £25 shall be paid by individual
student members and pensioners; couples in this category are
required to pay £40 annually. This shall be paid in no more than
three instalments.
 f. For the purposes of this document, student members refer to full
time students.
g. The Union shall determine on the recommendation of the
Executive which financial institution (bank) it shall use from time
to time.
h. All monies realised on behalf of the Union shall be used to execute
the purposes of the Union.
i. The signatories to the Union’s account shall be the Chairman or
Deputy Chairman and Treasurer or Financial Secretary. The
Deputy Chairman can only act in this capacity in the absence of
the Chairman.

10. MEETINGS
The Union shall meet once every two months (2 nd Sunday of said
month) or at other times that the Executive committee deems
necessary.

a. Notification of these meetings shall be sent to members’ email

addresses, or by post to those members without known email
addresses.
b. The quorum at any meeting shall be formed when at least two
members of the Executive and five registered members are
present. The meeting will normally be adjourned if a quorum is
not formed 30 minutes after the scheduled start time.
c. Meetings shall normally last 2 hours (3 - 5pm).
d. The meetings will be held at a place agreed by the Union.
e. Attendance shall be by physical presence. A letter or verbal
apology (for absence) through another member is acceptable.

11. LANGUAGE
 The approved languages for conducting meetings of the Union shall
be Igbo and English language, but minutes shall continue to be
written in English.

Constitution Review Committee:

Chimezie Umeh, Prof. Kevin Ibeh, Dr. Jude Eze, Pius Achuama, Phil Chira,
Uche Okwu, Patience Okeke.
Date: 29th May 2011