(2021)
SECTION 1
(1) There is established the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja (in this Act referred to as “the College”).
(2) The College –
(a) shall be a body Corporate with perpetual succession and a common;
(b) shall be an unconventional institution; and
(c) may sue or be sued in its corporate name.
Establishment of the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja.
SECTION 2
The objects of the College shall be to –
(a) encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons, without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring a higher education in complementary and alternative medicine;
(b) act as agent of catalyst, through training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilisation and conservation of complementary and alternative medicine;
(c) develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, higher national diplomas and other deserving certificates in the field of complementary and alternative medicine and other related courses;
(d) offer academic programmes in relation to the training of manpower in complementary and alternative medicine in Nigeria;
(e) organise research relevant to training in complementary and alternative medicine;
(f) organise extension services and out-reach programmes for technology transfer;
(g) establish institutions linkages in order to foster collaboration and integration of training, research and extension activities; and
(h) do such things as may be appropriate to achieving the objects of the College.
Objects of the College.
SECTION 3
(1) The College shall consist of –
(a) Chairman of the Governing Council;
(b) Provost;
(c) Deputy Provost;
(d) Registrar;
(e) Bursar and Librarian;
(f) schools, departments and other teaching and research units;
(g) persons holding the offices constituted by the First Schedule to this Act, other than those mentioned under paragraphs (a) to (e);
(h) all students of the College; and
(i) all other persons who are members of the College in accordance with provisions made by regulations in that behalf.
(2) The First Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the principal officers of the College.
(3) Provisions shall be made by statute with respect to the constitution of the following bodies, namely, the Council, Congregation and Convocation.
(4) The proprietor of the College shall be the Federal Ministry responsible for Health.
Principal officers of the College.
SECTION 4
(1) For the carrying out of its objects as specified in section 2 of this Act, the College shall have power to –
(a) establish campuses, institutes, clinics, schools, study centres, extra- mural departments and other teaching and research units within the College as may seem necessary or desirable, subject to the approval of the Council.
(b) hold examinations and grant national diplomas, higher national diplomas and other certificates to persons who have pursued a course of study approved by the College and have satisfied such other requirements as may be specified by the College in the field of (i) acupuncture, (ii) naturopathy, (iii) indigenous medicine, (iv) homeopathy, (v) chiropathy, (vi) unani-medicine, and (vii) other related health technology courses;
(c) issue and award fellowships, scholarships, exhibitions, bursaries, medals prizes and other titles;
(d) ensure the discipline and welfare of students of the College;
(e) demand and receive from any student or any other person attending the College for the purpose of instruction such fees as the College may determine, subject to the overall direction of the Council;
(f) acquire, hold, grant, charge, or otherwise deal with or dispose of moveable or immovable property wherever situate;
(g) accept gifts, grants, bequests, legacies and donations, but without obligation to accept the same for a particular purpose unless it approves the terms and conditions attached to it;
(h) enter into contracts, establish trust, act as trustee, solely or jointly with any other persons, employ and act through agents;
(i) erect, provide, equip and maintain libraries, laboratories, lecture halls, halls of residence, refectories, sports grounds, and other buildings or things necessary or suitable or convenient for any of the objects of the College;
(j) hold public lectures, and to undertake printing, publishing, book selling and production of remedies and other materials or products meant to improve the human health;
(k) borrow, whether on interest or not and if need be upon the security of any or all of the property, moveable or immoveable of the College, such money as the Council may, in its discretion find it necessary or expedient to borrow or to guarantee any loan, advances or credit facilities;
(l) subject to any limitations or conditions imposed by law, invest any money appertaining to the College by way of endowment, whether for general or special purposes, and such other money as may not be immediately required for expenditure in any investment or securities or the purchase or improvement of land, with power to vary any such investment, and to deposit any money for the time being not invested, with any bank on deposit or current account;
(m) affiliate with any university, research institute and other relevant agencies;
(n) engage in herbal remedy production;
(o) do anything as authorised or required by this Act or by regulations to do; and
(p) do all such acts or things incidental to the powers as may advance the objects of the College.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of the regulations and without prejudice to section 9 (2) of this Act, the powers conferred on the College under subsection (1) shall be exercised on behalf of the College by the Council or in any other manner which may be authorised by regulation.
Powers and functions of the College.
SECTION 5
The Governing Council (in this Act referred to as “the Council”) shall consist of –
(a) a Chairman;
(b) the Provost;
(c) the Deputy Provost;
(d) a representative of the Federal Ministry responsible for Health not below the rank of director;
(e) two persons appointed by the Academic Board from among its members;
(f) two representatives of the professional association;
(g) two persons appointed by Congregation from among its members;
(h) a representative of the National Board for Technical Education; and
(i) one person appointed by Convocation from among its members.
Composition of the Council.
SECTION 6
(1) The Chairman shall, in relation to the College, take precedence before all other members of the College and when he is present shall preside at all meetings of Convocation held for conferring national diploma and higher national diplomas.
(2) The Chairman shall exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be conferred or imposed on him by this Act or the statute.
Functions of the Chairman of the Council.
SECTION 7
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act relating to the Visitor, the Council shall be the governing body of the College, and shall be charged with the general control and superintendence of the policy, finance and property of the College.
(2) The Council shall ensure that proper accounts of the College are kept and that the accounts are audited annually by an independent firm of auditors.
(3) The Council shall meet as and when necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act and shall meet at least three times in every year.
(4) Where requested in writing by five members of the Council, the Chairman shall within 28 days after the receipt of such request, call a meeting of the Council.
(5) Any request made under subsection (4) shall specify the business to be considered at the meeting and a business not so specified shall not be transacted at the meeting.
(6) The Council may make rules for regulating its own procedure.
Functions and proceedings of the Council
SECTION 8
(1) There shall be a Committee of the Council, to be known as the Finance and General Purposes Committee, which shall, subject to the directions of the Council exercise control over the property and expenditure of the College, and perform such other functions of the Council as the Council may delegate to it.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act relating to the Visitor, the Council shall be the governing body of the College and shall be charged with the general control and superintendence of the policy, finance and property of the College.
(3) Provision shall be made by regulation with respect to the constitution of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.
(4) The Council shall ensure that-
(a) proper accounts of the College are kept;
(b) the accounts of the College are audited annually by an independent firm of auditors approved by the Council; and
(c) an annual report shall be published by the College together with certified true copies of the accounts as audited.
(5) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council and the Finance and General Purposes Committee may make rules for regulating their own procedures.
(6) Rules made under subsection (5) by the Finance and General Purposes Committee shall not come into force unless approved by the Council, and in so far as any rules so made by that Committee conflicts with any directions given by the Council (whether before or after the coming into effect of the rules in question), the direction of the Council shall prevail.
(7) There shall be paid to the members of the Council, the Finance and General Purposes Committee respectively and of any other Committee set up by the Council an allowance in respect of travelling and other reasonable expenses, at such rates as may be determined by the Minister.
(8) The Council shall meet as at when necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act and shall meet three times in every year.
(9) If requested in writing by five members of the Council, the Chairman shall within 28 days after the receipt of such request call a meeting of the Council.
(10) Any request made under subsection (9) shall specify the business to be considered at the meeting and a business not so specified shall not be transacted at the meeting.
Functions of the Council and its Finance and General Purposes Committee.
SECTION 9
(1) There is established for the College an Academic Board (in this Act referred to as “the Board”).
(2) Subject to section 5 of this Act, subsections (4) and (5), and other provisions of this Act, the general functions of the Board are to –
(a) organise and control teaching in the College;
(b) ensure admission and promotion (where no other enactment provides to the contrary) of students;
(c) discipline students; and
(d) promote research at the College.
(3) The Board shall be responsible for the –
(a) establishment, organisation and control of campuses, faculties, departments, institutes and other teaching and research units of the College and the allocation of responsibility of different branches of learning;
(b) organisation and control of courses of study at the College and of the examinations held in conjunction with examiners, both internal and external;
(c) award of diplomas and such other qualifications as may be prescribed, in connection with examinations held;
(d) making of recommendation to the Council with respect to the award to any person of an honorary fellowship or honorary diploma;
(e) establishment, organisation and control of halls of residence and similar institutions at the College;
(f) supervision of the welfare of students at the College and the regulation of their conduct;
(g) granting of fellowship, scholarship, prizes and similar awards in so far as the awards are within the control of the College; and
(h) determining what description of dress shall be academic dress for the purpose of the College, and regulating the use of academic dress.
(4) The Board shall not establish any new campus, college, faculty, department, school, institute or other teaching and research units of the College, or any hall of residence or similar institution at the College without the approval of the Council.
(5) Subject to this Act, the Board may make regulations for the purpose of performing any function conferred under this section or for making provisions for any matter for which provision by regulations is authorised or required by this Act.
(6) Regulations shall provide that at least one of the persons appointed as the examiner at each final or professional examination held in conjunction with any course of study at the College is not a teacher of the branch of learning to which the course relates at some other College of high repute.
(7) Subject to a right of appeal to the Council from a decision of the Board under this subsection, the Board may deprive any person of any national diploma, higher national diploma or other award of the College which has been conferred upon him if after due enquiry, he is shown to have been guilty of dishonourab[e or scandalous conduct in gaining admission into the College, or obtaining that award: Provided that such a person, has been given adequate opportunity of defending himself, against such allegation of misconduct.
The Academic Board and its functions.
SECTION 10
(1) There shall be a Provost of the College who shall be appointed by the President, in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) Where a vacancy occurs in the post of a Provost, the Council shall advertise in either internal and external reputable journal or newspaper.
(3) The person must be a practitioner of complementary and alternative medicine with academic qualification of Ph.D or its equivalent plus PGDE in line with national policy on education.
(4) There shall be, for the College, a Selection Board which shall consist of –
(a) the Chairman of the Council;
(b) the Provost;
(c) four members of the Council not being members of the Academic Board; and
(d) two members of the Academic Board.
(5) The functions. procedures and other matters relating to the Selection Board constituted under subsection (4) of the section shall be as the Council may determine.
Requirements for the post of Provost.
SECTION 11
(1) The Provost shall –
(a) be the chief executive officer, academic officer and Chairman of the Academic Board of the College;
(b) take precedence before all other members of the College; and
(c) be the Chairman at all meetings of the Academic Board.
(2) In the absence of the Provost, the Deputy Provost shall preside.
Functions of the Provost.
SECTION 12
(1) The Registrar shall in relation to the College, be responsible to the Provost, take orders and instructions from the Provost before all other members of the College.
(2) Subject to sections 7 and 8 of this Act, the Registrar shall be the Secretary of the College, in addition to any other functions conferred on him by this Act, of administering the College.
(3) The Registrar shall perform other functions that may be assigned to him by the Provost.
Functions of the Registrar.
SECTION 13
(1) The Council may appoint such other persons as the Council may determine to assist the Provost and the principal officers of the College in performance of their functions under this Act.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the remuneration, tenure of office and conditions of service of the employees of the College shall be determined by the Council in consultation with the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.
Other employees of the College.
SECTION 14
(1) All staff of the College shall draw salary from the public fund in line with National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission circular as it affects academic staff and non-academic staff in tertiary institutions.
(2) The age of retirement of employees of the College shall be as applicable to other higher institutions and research centers.
Salaries and pensions.
SECTION 15
The service in the College shall be approved service for the purpose of the Pension Reform Act and, accordingly, officers and other persons employed in the College shall be entitled to pensions and gratuities in line with extant laws. [Act No. 4, 2014]
Pensions.
SECTION 16
The College shall –
(a) receive funds directly from the budgetary allocation of the Federal Ministry responsible for Health and from other national and international donor agencies;
(b) receive any other grants and funding for research and other support from Tertiary Education Trust Fund; and
(c) generate revenue from student enrolment, tuition fees and other lawful means.
Funding of the College.
SECTION 17
(1) All property held by or on behalf of the Council by virtue of this subsection shall vest in the College and are to be held by it for the use of the College.
(2) The provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to matters arising from the transfer of property by this section, and with respect to the other matters mentioned in that Schedule.
Transfer of property to the College.
SECTION 18
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the College may make regulations for any of the following purposes-
(a) making provision with respect to the composition and constitution of any authority of the College;
(b) specifying and regulating the powers and duties of any authority of the College, and regulating any other matter connected with the College or any of its authorities;
(c) regulating the admission of students where it is done by the College, their discipline and welfare;
(d) determining whether any particular matter is to be treated as an academic or a non-academic matter for the purposes of this Act and of any statute, regulations, or other instrument made under it; or
(e) making provision for any other matter authorised by this Act.
(2) The Interpretation Act shall apply in relation to any statute made under this section as it applies to a subsidiary instrument within the meaning of section 12 of that Act. [Cap. I23, LFN 2004]
Statutes and powers of College.
SECTION 19
(1) The power of the College to make regulations shall be exercised in accordance with the provision of this section and not otherwise.
(2) A proposed regulation shall not become law unless it has been approved-
(a) at a meeting of the Academic Board, by the votes of not less than two-third of the members present and voting; and
(b) at a meeting of the Council, by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
(3) A proposed regulation may originate from the Academic Board and may be approved as required under subsection (2) by either one of those bodies before the other.
(4) A regulation which makes provision for or alters the composition or constitution of the Council, Academic Board or any other authority of the College, shall not come into operation unless it has been approved by the Minister.
(5) For the purpose of section 2 of the Interpretation Act, a regulation shall be treated as being made on the date on which it is duly approved by Council after having been duly approved by Academic Board, as the case may be, or in the case of a regulation falling within subsection (4), on the date on which it is approved by the Minister. [Cap. I23, LFN 2004]
(6) In the event of any dispute arising at any time-
(a) as to the meaning of any provision of a regulation; or
(b) as to whether any matter is for the purpose of this Act an academic matter as they relate to such dispute, the matter may be referred to the Visitor, who shall take such advice and make such decision as he deems fit.
(7) The decision of the Visitor on any matter referred to him under subsection (6) shall be final and binding upon the authorities, staff and students of the College.
Mode of exercising power to make regulations.
SECTION 20
(1) In the event of any doubt or dispute arising at any time as to the meaning of any provision of this Act, the matter may be referred to the Council who shall take such advice and make such decision as it deems fit.
(2) The decision of the Council on any matter referred to it under this section shall be binding upon the authorities, staff and students of the College.
(3) The provisions of this section shall apply in relation to any doubt or dispute as to whether any matter is for the purposes of this Act, academic or a non-academic matter as they apply and accordingly the references under subsection (2) to any question as to the meaning of any question as to whether any matter is for the said purposes an academic or a non-academic matter.
Powers of the Council to decide meaning of laws.
SECTION 21
A regulation may be proved in any court by the production of a copy or having affixed to it a certificate purporting to be signed by the Registrar to the effect that the copy is a true copy of a statute of the College.
Proof of regulations.
SECTION 22
(1) If it appears to the Council that a member other than the Provost or the Registrar should be removed from office on the ground of misconduct or inability to perform the functions of his office or employment, the Council shall make enquiry (if any) as may be considered appropriate, and direct the removal of the person in question from office.
(2) The person by whom an instrument of removal is signed under subsection (1) shall use his best endeavours to cause a copy of the instrument to be served as soon as reasonably practicable on the person to whom it relates.
Removal of certain members of the Council.
SECTION 23
(1) The President shall be the Visitor to the College.
(2) The Visitor shall as often as the circumstances may require, not being less than once every five years, conduct a visitation of the College or direct that such visitation be conducted by such person or persons as the Visitor may deem fit and in respect of any of the affairs of the College.
(3) The College shall make available to the Visitor, and to any other persons conducting a visitation under this section, such facilities and assistance as he or they may reasonably require for the purposes of a visitation.
The Visitor.
SECTION 24
(1) If it appears to the Council that a member of the Council (other than the Registrar or the Provost) should be removed from office on the ground of misconduct or inability to perform the functions of his office or employment, the Council shall make a recommendation to that effect through the Minister to the President after making such enquiry, if any, as may be considered appropriate, and if the President approves the recommendation he may direct the removal of the person in question from office.
(2) The Minister shall use his best endeavour to cause a copy of the instrument embodying a direction under subsection (l) to be served as soon as reasonably practicable on the person to whom it relates.
Removal of certain members of the Council by the President.
SECTION 25
(1) If it appears to the Council that there are reasons for believing that any person employed as a member of the academic, administrative or technical staff of the College (other than the Registrar or Provost), should be removed from his office or employment on the ground of misconduct or of inability to perform the functions of his office or employment, the Council shall-
(a) give notice of those reasons to the person in question;
(b) afford him an opportunity of making representations in person on the matter to the Council; and
(c) where he or any three members of the Council so request within the period of one month beginning with the date of the notice, make arrangements for- (i) a joint committee of the Council and Academic Board to investigate the matter and to report on it to the Council, and (ii) the person in question to be afforded an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by the investigating committee with respect to the matter, and if the Council, after considering the report of the investigating committee, is satisfied that the person in question should be removed, the Council may so remove him by an instrument in writing signed on the directives of the Council.
(2) The Provost may, in a case of misconduct by a member of the staff, which in the opinion of the Provost is prejudicial to the interests of the College, suspend such member, and such suspension shall immediately be reported to the Council.
(3) For good cause, any member of staff may be suspended from his duties or his appointment may be terminated by the Council, and for the purpose of this subsection “good cause” means-
(a) conviction for any offence which the Council considers to be such as to render the person concerned unfit for the performance of the functions of his office;
(b) any physical or mental incapacity which the Council after obtaining medical advice, considers to be such as to render the person concerned unfit to continue to hold his office;
(c) conduct of a scandalous or other disgraceful nature which the Council considers to be such as to render the person concerned unfit to continue to hold his office; or
(d) conduct, which the Council considers to be such as to constitute failure or inability of the person concerned to perform the functions of his office or to comply with the terms and conditions of his service.
(4) Any person suspended under subsection (2) or (3) shall be on half pay and the Council shall before the expiration of a period of three months after the date of such suspension consider the case against that person and come to a decision as whether to-
(a) continue such person’s suspension, and if so, on what terms including the proportion of emoluments to be paid to him;
(b) reinstate such person in which case the Council shall restore his full emoluments to him with effect from the date of suspension;
(c) terminate the appointment of the person concerned, in which case such a person will not be entitled to the proportion of his emoluments withheld during the period of suspension; or
(d) take such lesser disciplinary action against such person (including the restoration of such proportion of his emoluments that might have been withheld) as the Council may determine.
(5) Where the Council decides to continue a person’s suspension, and take further disciplinary action against the person under this section, the Council shall, before the expiration of a period of the three months from such decision, come to a final determination in respect of the case concerning any such person except that the three-month rule will not hold if the person’s suspension is interrupted by a court injunction for whatever reason.
(6) The person by whom an instrument of removal is signed under subsection (1) shall use his best endeavours to cause a copy of the instrument to be served immediately on the person to whom it relates.
(7) Nothing under this section shall-
(a) apply to any directive given by the Visitor in consequence of any visitation; or
(b) prevent the Council from making regulations for the discipline of other categories of staff and workers of the College as may be prescribed.
Removal and discipline of academic, administrative and technical staff.
SECTION 26
(1) The Provost or Academic Board shall constitute an Investigation Panel to determine whether or not a case has been established against any member of staff.
(2) The Investigation Panel shall include the President or the Chairman of the union to which the staff being investigated belongs.
(3) The Provost shall constitute a Staff Disciplinary Committee which shall consist of such members of the Academic Board as he may determine, to consider the report of the Investigation Panel.
(4) The report and recommendations of the Staff Disciplinary Committee shall be forwarded to the Council for consideration and decision.
Procedures for staff discipline.
SECTION 27
External examiners shall be appointed by the Academic Board.
Appointment of external examiners.
SECTION 28
(1) Where, on the recommendation of the Academic Board, it appears to the Provost that a person appointed as an examiner for any examination of the College ought to be removed from his office or appointment, then except in such cases as may be prescribed, the Provost may, after affording the examiner an opportunity of making representations in person on the matter, remove the examiner from the office or appointment by an instrument in writing signed by the Provost.
(2) Subject to the provisions of regulations made under section 19 of this Act, the Provost may, on the recommendation of the Academic Board remove a person as examiner under this subsection.
(3) The Provost, on signing an instrument of removal under this section, shall use his best endeavours to cause a copy of the instrument to be served as soon as reasonably practicable on the person to whom it relates.
Removal of examiners.
SECTION 29
(1) Subject to the provision of this section, where it appears to the Provost that any student of the College has been found guilty of misconduct, the Registrar may, without prejudice to any other disciplinary powers, direct that the-
(a) student shall not, during such period as may be specified in the direction, participate in such activities of the College, or make use of such facilities of the College, as may be so specified;
(b) activities of the student shall, during such period as may be specified in the direction, be restricted in such manners as may be so specified;
(c) student be rusticated for such period as may be specified in the direction; or
(d) student be expelled from the College.
(2) Where a direction is given under subsection (1) (c) or (d) in respect of any student, the student may, within the prescribed period and in the prescribed manner, appeal from the direction to the Council and, where such an appeal is brought, the Council shall, after causing such inquiry to be made in the matter as the Council considers just, either confirm or set aside the direction or modify it in such manners as the Council deems fit.
(3) The fact that an appeal from a direction is brought under subsection (2) shall not affect the operation of the direction while the appeal is pending.
(4) The Provost may delegate his powers under this section to a Disciplinary Committee consisting of such members of the College as he may appoint.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the restriction or termination of a student’s activities at the College other than on the ground of misconduct or very poor academic performance, or both.
(6) A direction under subsection (1) (a) may be combined with a direction under subsection (1) (b).
(7) No staff or student shall resort to a law court without proof of having exhausted all avenues for settling disputes or grievances or for seeking redress.
Discipline of students.
SECTION 30
(1) No person shall be required to satisfy requirements as to race (including ethnic grouping), sex, place of birth or of family origin, or religious or political persuasion, as a condition of becoming or continuing to be student at the College, the holder of a national diploma, higher national diploma or any other certificate of the College, or a member of any body established by this Act, and no person shall be subjected to any disadvantage or accorded any advantage in relation to the College, by reference to any of those matters.
(2) Nothing under subsection (1) shall be construed as preventing the College from imposing any disability or restriction on any of the persons where such person willfully refuses or fails on ground of religious belief, to undertake any duty generally and uniformly imposed on all such persons or any group of them, which duty, having regard to its nature and the special circumstances pertaining to it, in the opinion of the College, is reasonably justifiable.
Exclusion of discrimination.
SECTION 31
Without prejudice to the provision of the Land Use Act, the College shall not dispose of or charge any land or an interest in any land (including any land transferred to the College by this Act except with the prior written consent, either general or special, of the Council. [Cap. L5, LFN 2004 ]
Restriction on disposal of land by the College.
SECTION 32
Except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by regulations, the quorum and procedure of any body of persons established by this Act shall be such as may be determined by that body.
Quorum and procedure of bodies established under this Act.
SECTION 33
(1) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers to appoint a committee, any body of persons established by this Act, which need not consist exclusively of members of that body, shall authorise a committee established by it to-
(a) exercise, on its behalf such of its functions as it may determine; and
(b) co-opt members, who shall be entitled to vote in that committee.
(2) Any two or more of such bodies may arrange for the holding of joint meetings of those bodies, or for the appointment of committees consisting of members within the competence of those bodies or any of them, and either of dealing with it or of reporting on it, to those bodies or any of them.
(3) Except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by regulations, the quorum and procedure of a committee established or meeting held under this section shall be such as may be determined by the body or bodies which have decided to establish the committee or hold the meeting.
(4) Nothing under this section shall be construed as-
(a) enabling regulations to be made otherwise than in accordance with section 19 of this Act; or
(b) enabling the Academic Board to empower any other body to make regulations or to award a national diploma, higher national diploma or other qualifications.
(5) The Provost and the Registrar shall be members of every committee of which the members are wholly or partly appointed by the Council (other than a committee appointed to inquire into the conduct of the officer in question), and the Registrar shall be a member of every committee of which the members are wholly or partly appointed by the Council.
Appointment of committees.
SECTION 34
(1) The seal of the College shall be such as may be determined by the Council and approved by the Provost and the affixing of the seal shall be authenticated by any member of the Council and by the Provost, Secretary to the Council or any other person authorised under this Act.
(2) Any document purporting to be a document executed under the seal of the College shall be received in evidence and shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be so executed.
(3) Any contract or instrument which, if made or executed on behalf of the College by any person generally or specially authorised to do so by the Council shall be deemed to have been executed on behalf of the College.
(4) The validity of any proceeding of any body established under this Act shall not be affected by any vacancy in the membership of the body, or by any defect in the appointment of a member of the body or by reasons that any person not entitled to do so took part in the proceedings.
(5) Any member of any such body who has a personal interest in any matter propose to be considered by that body shall immediately disclose his interest to the body and shall not vote on any question relating to that matter.
(6) Any notice or other instrument authorised to be served by virtue of this Act may, without prejudice to any other mode of service, be served by post.
The seal of the College.
SECTION 35
In this Act- “Academic Board” means the Board of the College established under section 9 of this Act; ‘campus” means any campus which may be established by the College; “College” means the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine of Nigeria (FEDCAM), Abuja; “Council” means the Council established for the College under this Act; “graduate” means a person on whom a national diploma, higher national diploma or any other certificate has been conferred by the College; “law” means Act, regulation, or statute; “lecturer” means person holding a full-time appointment as a member of the teaching or research staff of the College; “notice” means notice in writing; “officer” does not include the Visitor; “property” includes rights liabilities and obligations; “regulations” means regulations made by the Academic Board or Council; “senior lecturer” means a person designated as such in accordance with provision made in that behalf by regulations; “study center” means any center, which may be established by the College; and “undergraduate” means a person in stalu-pupillari at the College, other than- (a) a graduate; and (b) a person of such description as may be prescribed for the purpose of this definition.
Interpretation.
SECTION 36
This Act may be cited as the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Establishment) Act, 2021.
Citation.
Section 3 (1) (g) and (2)
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE COLLEGE
The Provost
1. (1) The Provost shall be appointed or removed by the President.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Provost shall hold office for a single term of five years beginning with the date of his appointment.
The Deputy Provost
2. The Deputy Provost shall-
(a) perform all the functions of the Provost in the absence of the Provost; and
(b) assist the Provost in the day to day running of the College.
The Registrar
3. (1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the Registrar shall be appointed or removed from office by Council.
(2) The Registrar shall hold office for a single term of four years, renewable for another term only.
(3) Subject to this paragraph, the Registrar shall hold office on such terms as to emoluments and otherwise as may be specified in his letter of appointment.
(4) The Registrar is the chief administrative officer of the College and shall be responsible to the Provost for the day to day running of the College.
(5) The Registrar by virtue of the office, shall be the Secretary to the Council, Academic Board, Congregation and Convention, and shall advise on the technical issues on personnel management and regulations in the College.
The Bursar
4. (1) The Bursar is the chief finance officer of the College and shall be responsible to the Provost for the day to day financial control and financial management of the College.
(2) He shall also provide expert advice on issues of investments to generate revenue as well as disbursement of funds.
The College Librarian
5. (1) The College Librarian is responsible for the administration of the College library including the co-ordination of the library services in all departments and other teaching and research units of the College.
(2) He shall be directly responsible to the Provost.
(3) The librarian shall ensure proper utilisation of the budgetary allocations to the library for development.
Resignation and Re-appointment
6. (1) Any officer mentioned in the provisions of this Schedule may resign his office-
(a) in the case of Provost and Registrar, by notice to the Council; and
(b) in any other case by notice to the Provost who shall immediately notify the Council of the College.
(2) A Principal Officer other than the Registrar who has ceased to hold an office otherwise than by removal for misconduct shall be eligible for consideration for re- appointment to that office.
Section 17 (2)
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AS TO PROPERTY AND FUNCTIONS
Transfer of Property to the College
1. Without prejudice to section 17 (1) of this Act-
(a) the reference in that subsection on property held by the Council shall include a reference to the right to receive and give a good discharge for any grants or contributions which may have been voted or promised to the College; and
(b) all outstanding debts and liabilities of the Council shall become debts and liabilities of the College.
2. All agreements, contracts, deeds and other instruments to which the Council was a party shall, so far as possible and subject to any necessary modifications, have effect as if the College had been a party to it in place of the Council.
3. Documents not falling within paragraph (2), including enactments, which refer whether specially or generally to the Council shall be construed in accordance with that paragraph so far as applicable.
4. Any legal proceeding or application to any authority pending by or against the Council may be continued by or against the College.
5. The persons who were members of the Academic Board immediately before the coming into effect of this Act shall be deemed to constitute the Academic Board of the College until the date when the College as set up under the Schedule to this Act shall have duly been constituted.
