• Planned and sustained nurturing of deeper relations and cooperation among old students of Federal  Government College Sokoto, all over the world, towards developing the school’s academic performance and the general welfare and well-being of its students and staff at all times.
• Defence and promotion of the image, integrity, as well as academic performance of Federal    Government College Sokoto as a foremost academic institution in Nigeria.
• Advancement of the course of Unity in Nigeria and among Nigerians through deliberate promotion of closer and deeper cooperation and interaction with similar organizations of sister unity schools nationwide, and promoting a movement towards the emergence of Federal Government Colleges Alumni Associations Federation (FEGOCOLALAF).
• Facilitation of members meaningful meetings and interaction with democratic decision making processes and using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to ensure members practical and interactive inputs from any location in the world.
• Establishment of commercially viable and self sustaining projects anywhere in the world and channeling of proceeds therefrom exclusively to Federal Government College Sokoto’s welfare and development programmes, including scholarships, annual prizes and awards, schemes e.t.c. covering students and staff alike.
• Maintenance of high standard of ethics, conduct, etiquette and discipline among registered members of the Association.  
• Creation and maintenance of an Endowment Fund for the proper Execution of the Association’s development objectives

MEMBERSHIP:-
      (1)    There shall be two categories of membership:-

• Full Membership, and
• Honorary Membership.

       (2)   Full Membership

•  A full member shall be an old student of Federal Government College Sokoto, male or female, Nigerian Citizen or Expatriate, who completed either WASC or HSC or both in FGC Sokoto, and who fully subscribes to and is duly registered as a full member of this Association as set out in this constitution.  

•  Notwithstanding the provision in the above Section 3, (2), a) (i), any member who fails or neglects to pay his/her Annual Due before the end of March of  each year shall, for as long as he/she remains in default, shall have no right:-

                    <sub>a)    of audience in the Association at any level;

                          b)    to enjoy any benefit of membership in any manner.

                          c)    to hold any office whatsoever in the Association

                          d)   to vote or be voted into any office in the Association</sub>

• A failure or neglect to pay the Annual Due by any member as and when due, shall be deemed to be an act of misconduct.
  

       (3)  Honorary Membership: 

• A honorary member of shall be any friend of the Association, either within Nigeria, or in any foreign country, who is admitted as a mark of Honour in recognition of his/her past or continuing service to the  Association. Such a conferment of Honorary Membership shall be made by the Annual General Conference of the Association on the recommendation of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
• Such a honorary member may attend and, if permitted by the President of the Association, speak at the Annual General Conference of the Association or any forum organized by it.
• No honorary member of this Association shall be required to pay any compulsory subscription, dues or levies, except in exercise of his/her free will to assist the Association and neither shall such a Honorary Member be entitled to vote on any issue or be voted  for, and neither shall he or she hold any office in the Association.

              
SUPREME AUTHORITY:

• The Supreme Authority of this Association shall be exercised by the Annual General Conference of the Association.

ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE

•  The Annual General Conference shall hold on such a date in the month of May, as may be determined by the National Executive Committee.
• An Emergency general meeting to deliberate on specific issues may be summoned at such time and place as may be decided by the National Executive Committee.
• Election of National Officers of the Association shall be held every four years and every successfully elected National Executive Council Member  shall be entitled to recontest for the same and other offices.

 

• -On  the receipt at the secretariat of the Association of a requisition, signed by not less than 100 members from not less than 15 of the registered State Branches of the Association, the president shall direct, in writing the General Secretary to summon an Emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee:   
  
• -Such a National Executive Meeting shall hold within two weeks of the date of the receipt of the requisition;                 
  
• -The requisition shall state in clear details the matters that need to be deliberated upon;
• -Four weeks after the receipt of such requisition, the president      shall direct the General Secretary to convene an Emergency General Meeting of the Association to hold at such place, venue and time as may be decided on by the National Executive Committee to deliberate on the matter stated in the requisition together with any other items stated by the National Executive Committee;
•  - The National Executive Committee shall not be obliged to act on any requisition received less than eight weeks before the date of the Annual General Conference of the Association.        
  
• -The National Executive Committee shall include the matter or matters stated in the requisition as part of the business to be deliberated upon at the Annual General Conference.
• -Decisions at any Annual General Conference/Emergency General Meeting shall be by a simple majority on a show of hands of members present and voting except on elections of National Offices or on an important issues as decided by the Conference or the National Executive Committee when it shall be secret ballot.

    
THE  STANDING ORDERS  contained in the schedule to this Constitution shall govern the conduct of any deliberations at Annual General Conferences or Emergency General meetings.
    
The Quorum at an Annual General Conference or Emergency General Meeting shall be 100 members from at least 15 of the registered branches of  the Association. The Annual General Conference shall be responsible for the Admission of any new State Branch of IMA

Attendance at Annual General Conference shall be open to all members of the Association save those in default of payment of appropriate fees as at 1st day of April in a Conference year.

DELEGATES CONFERENCE:-
For Purposes of Election of National Officers, Constitutional Amendments; making of Bye-Laws and Standing Orders a delegate Conference shall hold with only the following in attendance:-

• National Officers and National Executive Committee Members
• 5 delegates from each branch in the Federation  
• Two (2) co-opted deserving elder members of the Association from each State Branch.
• At any Conference year, any Chapter or branch yet to be ratified but has less than 10 members who have duly registered with the Association, shall be considered for the purposes of voting only as an unratified Branch and shall be entitled to only one (1) voting delegate.
• The accredited delegates mentioned in section (6) (a) to (d) above shall be the only persons eligible to vote whenever the need for so doing arises during the conference. A voting delegate who is not up to date in  the payment of his/her annual fees, other  branch levies and dues as at 1st April before the date of the conference shall be disqualified from voting or being voted for.

    
GENERAL COUNCIL :     

• The General Council hall be constituted by the National Executive Committee.
• Any decision of the General Council made in pursuance of its powers over the general management of the affairs of the Association may be reviewed or modified by the Annual General Conference of the Association.
•  Without prejudice to section 7 (b) above if at any time, due to unavoidable circumstances or an emergency; an election could not hold at the appropriate time or the National Executive committee is incapable of functioning; the General Council shall be convened by the Chairman in Council with power to constitute 10 member caretaker committee to run the affairs of the association for not more than the unexpired term or until the next Annual General Conference whichever is shorter where a new National Executive Committee shall be elected.
• The General Council acting under section 7 (c) hereto shall not be subject to any limitations of its powers until a new National Executive Committee is elected and sworn in.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) : -

(a)    The National Executive Committee shall comprise the following only:-

•    National officers
•    All past Presidents and General Secretaries
•    All Chairmen and Secretaries of State Chapters and
•    Other deserving members of over 20 years post graduation from FGC Sokoto who have been co-opted by the National Executive Committee.

(b)    The National Executive Committee shall meet at least once in a quarter at such time and places as     may be decided by the National Executive Committee.

(c)    The Quorum for the meeting of the National Executive Committee shall be 8 members.

(d)    On the requisition of at least 10 members of the National Executive Committee a meeting shall be called by the President or the General Secretary within 2 weeks of the receipt of the requisition.
    
(e)    Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the National Executive Committee shall have and exercise and execute the following powers.

(i)    To exercise control and management over the finance of the Association including appointment of a suitable bank(s) for the purpose.

(ii)    To exercise the powers of the Association with respect to the appointment of representatives to any statutory or other body.

(iii)    To express the view of the Association upon any matter of public interest.

(iv)    To make all necessary arrangement for the Annual General Conference or for any other general meeting of the Association.

 (v)    To appoint an Administrative Secretary.

(vi)    To recommend to Annual General Conference a fit and proper person to audit the accounts of the Association.

(vii)    To appoint one of its members or any suitable member of the Association to fill and/or perform the duties pertaining to a vacated office, the holder of which is unable due to infirmity of mind or body or unwilling, or unqualified as a member of IMA to act during such tenure of office.
    
(viii)    To exercise all powers vested in the Association (except those reserved for the Annual General Conference or an Emergency General Meeting of the Association so as to promote and carry out the aims and objects of the Association as contained in this Constitution and in particular when the need arises to apply and receive donations on behalf of the Association.

(f)    Consensus shall be the aim of the Committee but if voting becomes necessary, it shall be by a simple majority based on a show of hands. Provided that for any specific issue, the Committee may resolve to vote by secret ballot.

(g)    A member who is absent from  three consecutive meetings of the National Executive Committee, unless he/she shows cause for such absence to the satisfaction of the National Executive Committee shall cease to be a member of the said body. Provided that if the defaulting member is a National Officer, he shall be deemed to have vacated his office.

OFFICERS:-
(a)    The officers of the Association shall be elected at the General Conference as provided in section 5(3) of this Constitution for a four-year term.

(b)    The National Officers of the Association shall be the;

• President
• Vice-President
• General Secretary
• Assistant General Secretary
• Treasurer
• Welfare Secretary
• Financial Secretary
• Assistant Financial Secretary
• Public Relations Officer
• Legal Adviser.

QUALIFICATION TO HOLD A NATIONAL OFFFICE:-
    
A member of the association shall be qualified to hold a National office if:-

(i)    For the post of a President or any other, a candidate should have practical experience of not less than the number  of years stipulated at (iv) below and without a record of conviction in any recognized Court of Law for a Criminal Offence.

(ii)    Any candidate for an Executive Committee position must not be a defaulter in the payment of annual Dues and must be up to date as at the date of his nomination and for the past three consecutive years.

(iii)    All candidates for National Executive Committee positions  must be full members.

(iv)    Such candidates must satisfy the provision of the following post graduation years  experience  for each post specified hereunder:-

• President and Vice President … ….20 years
• General Secretary, Financial Secretary, Legal Adviser and Welfare Secretary.. 10years
• Others, not less than 5 years.

DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING ANY NATIONAL OFFICE:-
A member shall not be qualified to hold any NATIONAL OFFICE in the association if during election campaign.

(i)    There is evidence that he is sponsored by or received any financial assistance or inducement from any politician or political party or corporate body or government/s or if he is proven to have sponsored or paid voting delegates travel, or lodging expenses :

(ii)    It is proven that he/she sponsored or was associated in sponsoring in a newspaper/s, magazine/s article/s or electronic broadcast vilifying other candidates or extolling a candidate’s virtue:

(iii)    Being a National Officer he has occupied the position he is seeking for two terms already.

(iv)  All the above caveat are without prejudice to the right of any candidate to be sponsored by his/her State Chapter to an Annual General Conference of the Association.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS:-

PRESIDENT

The duties of the President shall include:

 (a)    Presidential control of  Annual General Conference or Emergency as well as other General Meetings of the National Executive Committee;
    
(b)     To cause the summoning of meetings of the National Executive Committee either on his own initiative or in accordance with the   request of a quorum of members of the National Executive Committee.

(c)    Directing all other NEC\officers of the Association in the performance of their duties and co-coordinating the activities of all Branches;

(d)    Membership of all committees of the Association:

(e)    At an Annual General Conference to make the President’s Address in writing highlighting accomplishments, problems and future direction of the  Association;

(f)    Acting as Principal spokesperson of the Association;

(g)    In matters of investment, Cooperative schemes, mortgage, acquisition, disposal and development of all real estate belonging to the Association, the decision of the President, General Secretary and the Treasurer shall be subject to the approval of the quorum of the National Executive Committee.



THE VICE PRESIDENT:-

(i)    The Vice-President shall in the absence of the President preside at all the meetings in which the president by this Constitution has power to preside;

(ii)    Shall perform all other duties which the President, owing to ill-health, old age or absence from  the country or for any other reason is unable to perform or as he may be directed by the President, or the General Conference.

(iii)  In the absence of the President and the Vice-President, the most
senior member of the National Executive Committee in terms of years of experience or and Rank shall preside at any meeting of the Association at which the President is entitled to preside.


GENERAL SECRETARY:-
The General Secretary shall be in charge of the National Secretariat of   the Association and his duties include the following:-

(a)    On the instruction of the President or in accordance with a previous decision of the National Executive Committee or pursuant to a requisition made under section 12 (i) (b) Summon the Annual General Conference, Meeting of the National Executive Committee or other Meetings of the Association.

(b)    Record and keep the minutes including attendance and summary of all decision taken thereat.

(c)    Write and dispatch circulars, letters and other correspondence of the Association including that of the National Executive Committee.

(d)    Keep a Roll of members and an up-to-date list of branches of the Association.

(e)    Furnish an annual return or special report of the activities of the Association or any of its organs at the Annual Conference.

(f)    Perform all other duties as may be assigned to him by the President or the National Executive Committee of the Association.

(g)    Be an ex-officio member of all Committees of the Association, Provided that the General Secretary shall be elected from any of the branches in the aforesaid headquarters of the Association.

ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY:-
The Assistant General Secretary shall assist the General Secretary in the performance  of his duties and shall in the absence of the General Secretary act in his place.

TREASURER:-
The duties of the treasurer shall be as follows:-

(a) To receive, collect and pay to the Association’s bankers all monies collected for the Association or paid to the Association from any source whatever.  

(b) To carry out any decision or directive of the Annual General Conference in matters relating to the budget or finances of the Association.

(c) To prep[are or cause to  be prepared and submitted to the meeting of the  National Executive Committee an annual budget containing the estimated revenue and expenditure of the association for the period –1st September of every year to 31st August of the following year;

(d)  To invest the monies of the Association in such securities as may be approved by the National Executive Committee.

(e)  To circulate to every member of the National Executive Committee, the audited accounts and balance sheet of the Association for the preceding year.

SECRETARY: -
It shall be the duty of the Welfare Secretary to:-

(a)  Monitor the welfare and interest of members of the Association.

(b)  To bring to the notice of officers and National Executive Committee any matter concerning the welfare of any member of  the Association whether within or outside the country with a view to protecting and preserving their rights, privileges and welfare;

(c)  To be responsible for assistance to incapacitated and aged or retired members of the Association.

(d)  To be responsible for the insurance and endowment programmes of the Association.

FINANACIAL SECRETARY: -
It shall be the duty of the Financial Secretary to: -

(a)  Be in constant touch with the Branches and their officers to ensure that all their members pay their annual dues, subscription and levies as and when due;

(b)  Compile and circulate list of members who have paid or are in default in respect of their Annual Dues each year and take steps to circulate such lists to the Annual General Conference, and the National Executive Committee.

(c)  Collect and pay all monies of the Association to the Treasurer promptly  and keep records of such receipts and payments.

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER; -
It shall be the duty of the Public Relations Officer to: -

(a)    Publicise the activities of the Association
(b)    Create and sustain a good image of the Association ;
(c)    Issue releases and  statements on matters of general interest  to the Association and the public after consultation with the President and the National Executive Committee.

LEGAL ADVISER:-
It shall be the duty of the Legal Adviser to advice the Association, its officers, committees, organs or agents and represent or protect the interest of the Association in courts. Tribunals and judicial inquiries or proceedings. Provided that the National Executive Committee may engage any other Counsels or Lawyers or Solicitors of their choice for routine legal matters, agreements, recruitment of administrative staff, representation in a court of law e.t.c .

STANDING COMMITTEES:-
(a)    The Association shall have the following standing Committees:

•      Finance Committee.
•      Editorial Board
•      Welfare Committee
•      Disciplinary Committee
•      Welfare Committee
•      Training Committee
•      Legal Committee

and such other Committees as may be created by the National Executive Committee or General conference from time to time.

(b)    Membership of each Committee shall be decided by the National Executive Committee from time to time;

(c)    The provision of the Bye-law in the schedule to this constitution forms part of and shall have the same effect as any of the other provisions contained therein.

Chapters:-

(a)  There shall be only one Chapter of the Association in each State of the Federation.

(b)  A Chapter of the association shall consist of not less than 10 members.

(c)  A member shall join the Chapter in the State where he is domiciled provided that no member shall belong to more than one Chapter.

(d)  A member working or resident in a State which is not yet ratified as a Chapter  may register as a member in a Chapter nearest to him.

(e)  An application to form a Chapter shall be signed by not less than 10 members as stipulated in (b) above and submitted to the General secretary.

(f)  The National Executive Committee may consider and if satisfied approve the application.

(g)  The National Executive Committee may withdraw the recognition of any Chapter where the membership falls below the minimum. Provided that where the Chapter is dormant for a period of three years, the National Executive Committee may dissolve the executive of that Chapter and conduct a fresh election.

(h)  Every Chapter shall hold an Entertainment Meeting as and when necessary  Chapter officers shall be elected and a return of same made to the General Secretary.

(i)  Every Chapter shall forward a programme and record of its activities to the General Secretary quarterly
    
(j)  Every Chapter shall carry out the directives of the Annual General Conference or the National Executive Committee of the association.

(k) Every Chapter shall have a Chairman and Secretary and such other officers as may be necessary.

(l)  Every Chapter shall have the power to impose levies or subscriptions to defray the expenses for running its affairs, a member in default shall be subject to the same sanction as provided under section 1(2)(a)(ii) of this constitution.

(m)  Every Chapter shall keep an up-to-date list of its members and forward such list to the General Secretary before the end of July in each year.

(n)  A Chapter may have its own Bye-laws which shall come into force after it approval by the National Executive Committee provided that the Bye-laws which are inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution shall to the extent of such inconsistency be void.

DISCIPLINE:-
Chapters shall have the power to investigate and report cases of professional misconduct against it members and if need be send a report of the finding to the Chairman of disciplinary committee of the National Executive Committee.

ANNUAL DUES AND ENDOWMENT FUNDS:-
All members shall pay Annual Dues and Endowment Fund as may be determined from time to time by the National Executive Committee

ENDOWMENT FUND
The Endowment Fund payable annually by members shall be as prescribed by the Annual General Conference on the recommendation of the National Executive Committee, provided that any Chapter of the Association may prescribe any other contributions from its members for the purpose of running the Chapter.  

FINANCE:-
    
(a)  All monies belonging to the Association shall be kept in its name with such reputable bankers as the National Executive Committee shall appoint.

(b)  There shall be three Principal signatories to the Association’s accounts namely the President, and General Secretary or the Treasurer, any two may sign.

(c)  No expenditure shall be incurred for any purpose unless such expenditure has been approved generally by the Annual General Conference in its annual budget or under any supplementary budget or unless the National Executive Committee has specifically given prior approval to such expenditure. Provided that in any case of serious urgency, the Treasurer in consultation with the President and the General Secretary may authorize such expenditure in their discretion and afterwards seek and covey approval from the National Executive Committee, provided that the exercise of such discretion shall be limited to the recurrent expenditure of the month immediately preceding.

(d)  The General Secretary may hold as imprest such amount as may be approved by the National Executive Committee from time to time.

(e)  The National Executive Committee may invest the funds of the Association in government securities or such other securities as may be approved by the Annual General Conference.

(f)  If the Auditor surcharges any officer or member of the Association with payment of any amount, the National Executive Committee may serve a notice upon such person to pay the amount surcharged within a period not less than fourteen days after service of such notice upon him. Upon such person failing to pay the amount, the National Executive Committee may authorize that legal proceedings be taken to enforce payment.


TRUSTEES:-
    Subject to the ratification of the Annual general Conference, the National Executive Committee is empowered to appoint Trustees or Committees to raise money to develop the property of the Association in the best interests of the Association. The Trustees shall hold office for six years or until resignation unless removed from office by a resolution of the National Executive Committee for reasonable cause.
    
(a)    The number of Trustees shall be six, and all properties of the Association, freehold or leasehold, or other interests in land acquired for the use and benefit of the Association shall be vested in them.
    
 (b)    The Trustees shall deal with the property of the Association as directed in writing by a Resolution of the Annual Conference.

AMENDMENT:-
This Constitution shall not be amended except at an Annual General Conference of the Association by a two-thirds Majority of those present and entitled to vote. Provided that two-thirds of the Branches of the Association are represented: and provided further that at least 60 days notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given to the General Secretary who shall have circulated same to delegates at least 30 days before the proposed amendment is tabled for discussion at the Annual General Conference. For the avoidance of doubt, two-thirds majority of members present and voting shall be approximated to the nearest whole number.



FIRST SCHEDULE
BYE-LAWS

1. JOURNALS:-
    The Association shall have power to publish journals in pursuance of Section 3(b) of the constitution.

2. EDITORIAL BOARD:-
    (a)    The members of the Editorial Board shall be active members of the Association.
    
    (b)    The National Executive Committee shall appoint 3 but not more than 5 suitable members of good standing to be Editorial Board members of the Association’s Journal.

    (c)    The National Executive Committee may remove any member of the Editorial Board or Trustees for good cause.

    (d)    The Editorial Board shall endeavour to publish at least one issue of the journal per annum.

    (e)    The National Executive Committee shall operate a separate bank account for Journals.

    (f)    The signatories to such account shall be the President, Treasurer and the Chairman of the Editorial Board.

3.  NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:-

(a)    Members of the National Executive Committee, State Executive Committee, or Standing or other Ad-hoc Committees representing their Branches shall keep their branches informed of all the activities of the Executive committees and Ad-hoc Committees.

 (b)    Any member of any such committee who is unwilling to carry out the directives or decisions of Conference or Committee shall be suspended from such Committee by a simple majority of the members of the Committee.

4.    MEETINGS:-
(a)    Notices of motion or resolution other than those proposed for amendment of the Constitution shall reach the General Secretary on or before 30th June every year.

(b)    Notice or circulars of Annual General Conference together with agenda, resolutions and a list of candidates shall be dispatched to Chapters at least 30 days before the date of the Conference.

5.    AMENDMENT:-
These Bye-Laws shall be amended by or at any Annual or Emergency General Conference subject to a notice of proposed amendment being received by the General Secretary and Branches at least 60 days and 30 days respectively before the Conference by a simple majority of members present and voting.


SECOND SCHEDULE:
STANDING ORDERS

STANDING ORDERS:-
For the purpose of, and effective conduct and procedure at Annual General Conference, other conference or meetings and matters relating thereto, these bye-laws shall be read together with the Constitution of the Association:-

1.  These standing Orders are made by the Annual General Conference of IMA, in exercise of its power under Section 5 of the Constitution of the Association and other enabling Powers in that behalf.

2.  An Annual General Conference or Emergency general Conference shall transact such business as is on its agenda or any business decided by a previous Conference or the National Executive Committee.

3.  An agenda of the business of a meeting shall be supplied in advance to every branch of the Association which shall make such agenda available to its members or accredited delegates to the Conference or Emergency General Conference. Provided that the agenda shall be adhered to till the completion order is made and carried by a simple majority of the members present representing the majority of the branches in the Federation.

4.  The President shall preside at the meeting and in his absence the Vice-President shall preside failing which the members present shall elect a Chairman from among themselves.

5.  Any member who wishes to speak shall hold up his hand to attract the Chairman’s attention.

6.  No member shall commence to speak on any topic until recognized to do so by the Chairman.

7.  No two members shall stand up to speak simultaneously during discussion at a meeting.

 8. The order of speaking shall be determined by the Chairman in his absolute discretion without fear or favour but he shall give a reasonable opportunity for divergent views to be heard.

9.  The Chairman in this discretion may stop a debate even when there are members still anxious to speak on the subject if he considers that there has been sufficient discussion on the matter under consideration.

10. A member who has any relevant and pertinent information to give during the course of a speech by another may raise a “point of information” which he may only proceed to give if permitted to do so by the Chairman.

11.  A member may raise a plea of “point of order” which when raised shall only be sustained by the Chairman where he accepts that there is deviation by a speaker from the subject matter and /or according to these standing Orders.

12.  A member who claims that he has been misquoted or misrepresented may raise the plea of “point of correction” and if allowed by the Chairman shall correct the same.

13.  In the event of proposition to proceed to the next business or for progress being moved and seconded it shall after the proposer and seconder of the resolution have been heard be put to the vote. If carried the matter under debate shall immediately be put to the vote and once carried the subject voted upon shall not again be introduced during the meeting.

14.  No motion or amendment shall be discussed unless it is seconded except the proposals of the Executive Committee or the report of Committee of the Association which shall be taken as having been moved and seconded. No second amendment or rider shall be voted upon until the first amendment is disposed of.

15.  On any issue every member present shall have one vote at a time but the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote in the event of equality of votes, the Presiding Electoral Officer shall have a casting vote.

16.  The Chairman shall exercise power to ask any one found engaging in distractive or destructive acts to leave the Conference.

17.  The Conference shall have the power to appoint Committee or Commission for the furtherance of its business. Such committees or Commission may sit during the hours of the Conference should it be necessary for them to do so.

18.  The Chairman may give direction or adopt measures reasonably necessary in the interest of the Association or reasonably conducive to the conduct of proceeding of any Conference or meeting. The procedure at a meeting of any Committee may be determined by that Committee.

19.  The ruling of the President or Chairman on matters provided for in this Standing Orders shall be obeyed.

ELECTIONS:-
20.    (a) Offices shall be vacant after expiration of term, or as a result of death, resignation, removal, revocation o r any other reasonable cause.
        
         (b) Any vacancy occurring in any office after the General Conference may be filled by the National Executive Committee.

         (c) A candidate for any elective national office shall be nominated or proposed in writing by a member and seconded by another both of whom shall be qualified like the candidate in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of the Constitution for the equivalent office and in good standing with their Annual Dues and all other branch levies.

         (d)The nomination papers shall be dispatched so as to reach the General Secretary on or before the 30th day of June in an election year and where there is no nomination  for any office the Conference or the National Executive Committee may fill the vacancy.
        
         (e) On 1st July of each election year, the General Secretary shall compile a list of all nominations received and shall exhibit a copy at the Secretariat notice board and forward a copy to all candidates who have been nominated as well as every member of the National Executive Committee and Branches.

         (f)  A full list of properly nominated candidates shall be exhibited or posted at a conspicuous place or notice board in or around the Conference Hall on or before the second day of General Conference and also supplied to the electoral officers.

        (g)  Ballot papers, in one or different colours authenticated or identified e.g. by stamping shall be made ready before hand and supplied to voting delegates either at conference entrance after a break immediately preceding election or in the hall as and when necessary and ballot containers or boxes shall be provided o r made available before election time.

        (h) Ad-hoc election officers, a minimum of three and a maximum of five, one of whom shall preside shall be appointed by the conference.

         (i)  The electoral officers shall control, and manage the election for which they were appointed. During the elections the Presiding Electoral officer shall have the powers of the Chairman under these standing orders.

         (j)  The Electoral Officers shall decide on the colour of ballot paper to be used for the office to be contested, if ballot paper of different colours are supplied. To the extent of their functions the decisions of the election officers shall be final.

         (k)  All voting in elections at Conference shall be by secret ballot providing that the Conference shall have the right to order otherwise

         (l)  The Validity of proceedings of an Annual Conference or any other conference or meeting shall not be affected by vacancy in any office or any defect in the appointment or election of officers or irregularity in the proceedings.

         (m)  For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Constitution shall take   precedence and prevail over those of the BY-LAWS AND STANDING ORDERS where a conflict occurs.

AMENDMENT:-

21.    Proposals for amendment of the Standing Orders shall if initiated by the National Executive Committee or a member or a Branch be sent to the General Secretary to reach him not less than 120 days before the annual General Conference and the General Secretary in turn shall send copies of such proposals to all Branches not less than 60 days before the Annual General Conference.

22.    The Annual General Conference may by a majority of votes of conference rescind, amend or suspend the provisions of these STANDING ORDERS.