Constitution

association of accounting technicians of

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF NIGERIA

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

1.         NAME

           The name of the Association shall be the ASSOCIATION OF ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF NIGERIA. The Association is established to provide a middle level manpower for the Accounting Profession under the auspices of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (The Institute) and all its activities shall be regulated by the Executive Committee of the Association subject to the approval of the Council of the Institute.

2.        The Secretariat of the Association shall be located at the Institute’s Secretariat or any other place designated by the Council of the Institute.

3.        OBJECTS

           The objects for which the Association is established are:

           a.          To provide a recognized qualification for the Technical Accounting and Auditing Staff for practicing accountants, industrial, commercial establishment and the public sector.

           b.          To help meet the technical staffing needs of the economy in general including those of the various governments and parastatals.

           c.          To give corporate identity to Accounting Technicians

           d.          To promote the continuing education and intellectual growth of its members by encouraging and enlightening them to become professional accountants.

           e.          To promote the interest of and consider all issues affecting members.

          f.          To create a forum for the study of contemporary issues which relate to Accounting Technicians

           g.          To encourage and assist students of Acocunting Technicians Scheme to qualify.

           h.          To enhance the skills and publicise the activities, skills and achievements of members.

           i.           To encourage members to participate actively in the affairs of the Association, undertake projects that will enhance the image of the Association and the Institute.

           j.            To organise activities relating to the students of the Association.

           k.           To do all such things as may be necessary for the attainment of these objects.

4.        FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

           a.        The Council shall establish and maintain a fund for the Association.

           b.        The Council shall have powers to operate bank accounts on behalf of the Association.

           c.        The Council may from time to time borrow money for the purposes of the Association. Any interest payable on money so borrowed shall be paid out of the fund of the Association.

           d.        The Council shall keep proper records and books of accounts on behalf of the Association in respect of each financial year, which shall run from 1st June to 31st May. The income and expenditure statement of the Association should be made available to the Executive Committee on a quarterly basis. The Council shall cause the accounts to be audited by a Chartered Accountant who is not a member of the Council and when audited, the accounts shall be embodied in the accounts submitted to the Annual General Meeting of the Institute.

           e.        The final accounts of the Association shall be made available to members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

5.        MEMBERSHIP

           a.        Requirement

                     Membership of the Association shall be open to any person who has passed the final examination of the Accounting Technicians Scheme of the Institute and has been inducted and awarded a certificate accordingly.

           b.        Title

                     Any such inducted member shall be entitled to use the title “AAT” after his/her name.

           c.        Subscription

           i.         Each new member shall pay a registration fee and the current annual subscription payable before such a member is admitted.

           ii.        Each member shall pay an annual subscription determined from time to time by Council not later than 31st January of every year.

           iii.       Non-payment of annual subscription shall attract penalty as may be prescribed by Council.

           d.        Membership Register

                     Council shall maintain a Register, which shall contain the names of all members of the Association.

6.        ETHICS AND DISCIPLINE

           A member found guilty by the Investigating Panel of AAT appointed by the Executive Committee shall be disciplined in a manner prescribed by the Executive Committee or as approved by Council.

7.        MEETINGS

           a.      GENERAL

                    The meeting can be brought to a close at the request of the Chairman on a motion for adjournment, which shall be proposed by a member, supported by another and supported by majority of the members in attendance.

           b.      ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

                    i.      The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall take place once in each financial year and before the Institute’s Annual General Meeting.

                   ii.     There shall be a written notice of such a meeting to members at least 21 days before the date of the meeting.

                    iii.    The quorum for this meeting shall be 10 members provided the Chairman or the Vice Chairman or any member of the Institute on the  AAT Executive Committee is present.

                    iv.    All decisions shall be by a simple majority subject to Rule 5 (a)

        c.         SPECIAL RESOLUTION

                    i.      Any member who is entitled to vote can move a motion but such a motion shall be submitted to the Secretariat not less than 28 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

                    ii.     Notice of any Resolution must be given to members entitled to receive notice of the next Annual General Meeting concerning the subject matter of the Resolution.

                           Any motion duly submitted as in C (i) above shall be circulated to every member entitled to receive notice of the AGM before the date of the AGM

          d.       EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

                    Executive Committee meeting of the Association shall be held once every other month. The quorum shall be 5 members, which should include any of the Chairman, Vice-chairman or any member nominated by the Institute.

          e.       SPECIAL MEETING

                    A special meeting of the Association may be convened by the Executive Committee at anytime and if not less than 12 members of the Association require it by notice in writing addressed to the Secretary of the Association setting out the objects of the proposed meeting. The Chairman of the Association shall convene a special meeting of the Association.

          f.       VOting Right

                    Only financial members whose names are on the Register as at December 31st preceding the Annual General Meeting are eligible to vote and be voted for. A member is entitled to only one vote. At the Annual General Meeting, the Chairman  has a casting vote.

8.        MINUTES

           The proceedings of all General Meetings of the Association shall be recorded by the General Secretary in the Minute Books provided for that purpose and signed by the Chairman.

9.        EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

           The management of the Association shall be entrusted to an Executive Committee, which consist of:

           a.      Four (4) persons nominated by the Institute.

           b.      Ten members elected in accordance with Rule 14.

10.      OFFICERS

           The Officers shall be:

           i.      Chairman who shall be nominated by the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Such a person shall not be below the position of Deputy Vice President of ICAN.

           ii.     Deputy Chairman whom the Executive Committee shall elect from amongst its elected AAT members.

           iii.    General Secretary who shall be appointed by the Institute on the recommendation of the Registrar / Chief Executive of the Institute.

           iv.    Assistant General Secretary (elected).

           v.     Social Publicity Secretary (elected).

           vi.    Membership Secretary (elected).

           vii.   Financial Secretary (elected).

           viii.  Ex-officio members (four to be nominated by ICAN while five should be elected by the members).

11.      ELECTION OF OFFICERS

           i.      As a way of ensuring rancour free election.  AAT office bearers shall be elected base on the following:

1. Merit
2. Experience
3. Seniority
4. Service to the Association

           ii.     The elected AAT Council Members shall stand for re-election every other year

        subject to provision 14(8) of the Constitution

1. A Vice-Chairman cannot re-contest in the position he has just vacated while other officers can be re-elected but cannot be in the same office for 4 consecutive years.

12.      DUTIES OF OFFICERS

           i.      CHAIRMAN

                    The Chairman shall be the leader of the Association. It shall be his duty to:

                    a.  Preside at all General and Executive Committee meetings of the Association.

                    b.  Co-ordinate the activities of all other officers of the Association.

                    c.  Be an ex-officio member of all sub-committees of the                                    Association.

           ii.     VICE CHAIRMAN

                    a.  The Vice Chairman shall deputise for the Chairman in the absence of the latter

                    b.  The Vice Chairman shall perform any such other duties as may be assigned to    him by the Chairman and the Executive Committee.

           iii.    GENERAL SECRETARY

                    The General Secretary shall perform the following duties.

                    a.  Summon meetings of the Association on the advice of the Chairman.

                    b.  Record and keep minutes of all meetings.

                    c.  Issue and dispatch circulars and minutes to members.

                    d.  Keep a Register of members.

                    e.  Submit an Annual Report on the activities of the Association in writing to the Annual General Meeting through the Executive Committee.

                    f.  Shall be responsible for the management of the Association’s Secretariat.

                    g.  Shall be the Secretary to all sub-committees of the Association.

                    h.  Perform all other duties as may be directed by the Chairman and the Executive Committee.

iv.       ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY

            The Assistant General Secretary shall assist the General Secretary in the performance of his duties. He shall, in the absence of the General Secretary deputise for him.

v.        FINANCIAL SECRETARY

           It shall be the duty of the Financial Secretary to:

           a.      Ensure that all members pay their subscriptions and levies within the stipulated time.

           b.     Prepare from time to time, up to-date financial position of members and prseent such information to members at meetings.

           c.      Carry out any decision or directive of the Association or the Executive Committee in matters relating to the finance of the Association.

           d.     Invest the funds of the Association in such securities as may be approved by the Council of the Institute.

           e.      Submit to the Annual General Meeting, through the Executive Committee an Annual Report, which shall include the Audited Accounts of the Association.

vi.       PUBLICITY SECRETARY

           The duties of the publicity Secretary shall be to:

a.   Publicise the activities of the Association.

b.  Project the image of the Association at all times.

c.   Issue releases and statements on matters of general interest to the Association in

      consultation in with the Executive Committee.

d.  Make necessary publicity arrangements for all the activities of the Association.

e.   Ensure members full participation in Social activities of the Association

f.   Act as the Editor of the Association’s journal and be a member of the Editorial Board.

vi.            MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

                a.      See to the keeping of a register for subscriptions and levies payable and paid by members.

                b.      Encourage members to participate actively in all the activities of the Association.

                c.      Any other activities in achieving the objectives of the Association as allocated to him through the Executive Committee.

13.          EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

                i.       Five members of the Committee of whom two shall be nominees shall form a quorum.

                ii.      The Executive Committee may appoint the Sub-Committee i.e Induction, AGM/Annual Conference Sub-Committees.  The Exco Committee may co-opt AAT members who are not Executive Committee to serve in the Sub-committee.

                iii.     One-half of all elected members of the Committee shall retire annually and shall be eligible for re-election subject to section (12) of this Constitution and a proviso that they do not seek re-election after 4 years

                iv.     Voting shall be by secret ballots

                v.      The results of the ballot shall be binding as declared by the Board of Scrutineer/Chairman.

                vi.     Where there is a tie, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

                vii.    Any elected member of the Committee who wishes to resign shall tender his/her resignation in writing to the General Secretary of the Association.

                viii.   Any elected member of the Committee who is absent from three (3) consecutive Executive Committee meetings shall retire at the next Annual General Meeting.

                ix.     Nominations for elected Committee members must be proposed in writing and seconded in writing by financial members. The proposal shall obtain the consent of any nominee for office or for membership of the Committee. Ballot papers shall be received by the last day of February. Completed ballot papers must be submitted to the General Secretary not later than seven days before the Annual General Meeting.

14            INTERPRETATION OR RULES

               In the events of any dispute arising as to the interpretation of these rules, such dispute shall be referred to the Council of the Institute, the decision of which shall be final and binding upon all parties.

15.      AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

           a.        A copy of this Constitution as approved by the Council and for the time being in force shall be available to a member of the Association, at a charge to be determined by the Council.

           b.        Any amendment as may be recommended by the Executive Committee must be carried by at least 75% (percent) of members present and voting at a General Meeting of the Association subject to approval by Council.

           c.        The General Secretary of the Executive Committee shall notify members of any change in the Constitution of the Association.

Further Advice          

If you would like additional advice on the application of these Guidelines or you are in doubt about the proper course of action to be taken in a particular situation, please contact the Executive Committee of the Association, or the Registrar/Chief Executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

Contact details are given below:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria

Association of Accounting Technicians

Plot 16 Idowu Taylor Street

Victoria Island

P.O. Box 1580, Marina

Lagos

Fax:  01-2610304

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