ARTICLE 21

JOURNAL OF THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

There shall be a Medical Journal of the Association.

1. Name: The name of the Journal shall be the Nigerian Medical Journal herein before and after referred to as the Journal or NMJ.

2. Ownership: The Nigerian Medical Journal shall be the property of the Nigerian Medical Association.

3. Aims of the Journal: Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the aims of the Journal shall be:
(a) To provide a medium for the dissemination and permanent record of the results of clinical experience and scientific medical research, particularly in Nigeria.
(b) To serve as a forum for the dissemination of general information and reports on conferences of the Nigerian Medical Association, among members.

4. Functionaries of the Nigerian Medical Journal
(a) The Editor The Editor shall be appointed by NEC subject to ratification by the ADM for a term of three (3) years subject to renewal for a second term of 3 years only.
(b) Deputy Editor A Deputy Editor shall be appointed by NEC on the recommendation of the Editorial Committee from among the Associate Editors for a term of three years renewable for one more term of three years only.
(c) Associate Editors (i) At least ten Associate Editors shall be appointed by Council on the recommendation of the Editor.
(ii) In order to establish a system that guarantees continuity, five of the first TEN (10) Associate Editors appointed under this Constitution shall be replaced after 3 years and the others after the fourth year.
(iii) Thereafter any Associate Editor shall serve a term of three years but may be removed by the Council on the recommendation of the Editorial Committee.
(d) The Editorial Advisers The Editorial Advisers shall be appointed by NEC on the recommendation of the Editorial Committee. They shall serve a term of four years each and shall be eligible to one other term only. There shall be not less than TEN (10) Editorial Advisers reflecting geographical and specialty interests as much as practicable. An Editorial Adviser may be removed by NEC on the recommendation of the Editorial Board.

(e) The Editorial Committee shall consist of the following officers:
(i) The Editor as Chairman
(ii) The Associate Editors
(iii) The Secretary-General
(iv) The National Treasurer
(v) The Deputy Editor who shall be the Secretary.

5. Management of the Journal
The Editorial Committee shall be vested with the management including production and sales of the NMJ in accordance with Article 21(6) below. It shall meet every 3 months. The meeting shall be summoned by the Secretary-General in consultation with the Editor. At least 5 members including the Editor or his Deputy shall form a quorum.

6. Duties of Functionaries of the Journal
(a) The Editor
(i) The Editor shall receive manuscripts for publications, and shall be responsible for obtaining assessments regarding publish-ability of such manuscripts.
(ii) He shall present such manuscripts and the assessors' comments to the Editorial Committee, the decision of which shall be final as to the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.
(iii) He shall make a written progress report to every ADM.
(iv) He shall prepare annual, and when necessary supplementary, budget(s) for the Journal which shall first be vetted by the Editorial Committee and approved by NEC after the ADM.
(v) He shall present an audited account to the ADM.
(vi) He shall maintain an Editorial Office.
(vii) The Editor of the NMJ shall be responsible for all that appears therein except such matters as are inserted in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, or by direction of NEC and/or Delegates' Meeting.
(b) Deputy Editor The Deputy Editor shall assist the Editor in the management of the Journal. He shall act for the Editor as and when necessary.
(c) Associate Editors The Associate Editors shall assist the Editor in the production of the Journal.
They shall also assist in reading and correcting proofs of the journal.
(d) Editorial Advisers
The Editorial Advisers shall:
(i) ensure strict adherence to the objectives and policy of the Journal;
(ii) advise the Editor in all other matters relating to the efficient publication of the Journal;
(iii) meet with the Editorial Committee at least once a year.

7. Producer
When necessary, a producer shall be appointed by NEC on the recommendation of the Editorial Committee and on such terms as shall be determined by Council on the recommendation of the Editorial Committee to produce the Journal for the NMA.

8. Bankers
There shall be a separate account for the financial transactions of the NMJ. The Editor shall be entitled to an imprest to be determined by NEC. All expenditure shall be subject to guidelines set by the approved budget(s).