ARTICLE 15

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

1. National Advisory Council There shall be an Advisory Council consisting of:
(a) The President
(b) The Secretary-General as Secretary
(c) All Past Presidents
(d) All Past Secretaries-General
(e) Chairman or Registrar of the MDCN
(f) President or Registrar of the NPMC
(g) Chairman, Committee of Provosts/Deans of Medical Schools.
(h) Chairman, Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Teaching and Specialist Hospitals.
The oldest Past President shall be the Chairman.
2. Committee of Past Presidents There shall be a committee of Past Presidents.
It shall consist of:
The President as Chairman
Immediate Past President
All Past Presidents
Secretary-General, who shall be a co-opted member and shall serve as the Secretary.
It shall meet when the need arises to advise the President and/or the Association on any matter.
The President shall cause the meeting to be called through the Secretary-General or Deputy Secretary-General or any of the Assistant Secretaries- General. This is however, without prejudice to Article 11(15).
The President shall appoint the Deputy Secretary-General or any of the Assistant Secretaries- General to serve as the Secretary of the meeting where the Secretary-General is absent or unable to attend the meeting.
4. Medical Legislation and Relations (MLR) Committee (a) This shall be a Standing Committee and shall fulfill the provisions of Article 13 section (6)
(b) Composition: The Medical Legislation and Relations Committee shall consist of:
(i) First Vice-President who shall be the Chairman
(ii) Deputy Secretary-General who shall be the Secretary
(iii) A Past President
(iv) A Past Secretary-General
(v) Director, Planning, Research & Statistics of the Federal Ministry of Health or his representative if the Director is a medical or dental practitioner.
(vi) Registrar, MDCN
(vii) President/Chairman or Secretary-General, AGPMPN
(viii) President/Chairman or Secretary-General of MDCAN
(ix) President/Chairman or Secretary-General of NARD
(x) Secretary-General of CAMAS or his representative if CAMAS Secretary-General is a Nigerian.
(xi) Two other members to be appointed by the NEC.
(xii) Chairman of the Committee of Deans/Provosts of Medical Schools.
(xiii) Registrar of the NPMC
(c) Functions:
(i) To consider and advise or make recommendation(s) to NEC on all proposed legislation affecting Health Care Delivery System and Medical and Dental Education in Nigeria.
(ii) To serve as NMA lobby group in respect of (i) above.
(iii) To consider and make recommendation(s) to NEC on how to assist the Governments and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the provision of smooth, efficient and effective health care delivery system in the country.
(iv) To consider and make recommendation(s) to NEC on how to assist the Association to cooperate maximally with Nigerian and other international organizations which have aims and objectives similar to those of the Nigerian Medical Association.
(v) To promote closer relationship amongst medical and dental practitioners in the country and to meet regularly to discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting relations between the various sub-groups and interest groups, or between any of these groups and the Association; to discuss and advise NEC on matters of common interest between the medical profession and other health professionals and between the NMA and the various Governments of the country.
(vi) Shall be responsible for formulating the terms of reference and any reviews thereof for Standing Committee(s) of the Association for approval by the NEC unless otherwise stated herein in this Constitution.
(vii) Shall bring to the notice of the Association or the NEC any proposed or promulgated Edict, Law or Decree which has relevance to the Association or Healthcare delivery system and make recommendations to Council on such matters to enable the Association achieve the aims and objectives stipulated in Article 2 (1) of this Constitution.
(viii) May advise the President and Council on the interpretation of the Constitution or proceedings in respect of the Constitution if its opinion is sought provided where there is a conflict the provisions of paragraph one of 12 (1) (h) (i) shall prevail.
(ix) Shall advise on appointment of legal practitioner(s) who will advise the Association on all legal matters.
(x) Shall perform all other tasks that may be referred to it by the Delegates' Meeting, NEC or the President from time to time.