ARTICLE 7

ANNUAL GENERAL / SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE AND DELEGATES' MEETING

1. There shall be an Annual General/Scientific Conference of the Association, to be held in various centers as may be determined by the National Executive Council.
2. The highest decision making body of the Nigerian Medical Association shall be the Delegates' Meeting of the Association.
3. There shall be an Annual Delegates' Meeting which shall be the business meeting and which shall hold during the Annual General/Scientific Conference.
4. An Emergency Delegates' Meeting may be called by the President or NEC whenever he or it deems necessary to do so or a request in writing signed by one HUNDRED (100) or more members resident in at least HALF OF THE STATES OF THE FEDERATION may ask for an Emergency Delegates' Meeting to be convened provided FCT-Abuja branch shall also be regarded as a State in this instance. The request shall state the specific matters to be considered and shall be deposited with the President and/or the Secretary-General. The President shall call the meeting within four weeks of such notice. Notice of such meeting shall be in accordance with Article 9(2) and (6) of this Constitution.
5. (a) During the Annual General Conference there shall be a Plenary Session for all categories of members present as stated in Article 4 at which the Secretary-General and other officers shall submit reports on the activities of the Association for the year. In particular, the President shall present an audited account of the Association for the financial year preceding the Annual General Conference. Decisions at the Plenary Session shall be regarded as non-binding propositions for the consideration of the ADM.
(b) Every State branch/FCT - Abuja branch, recognized professional group, Committee, body,Task Force, National Disciplinary Committee, representative of the Association on any body where the Association is required to be represented shall each submit an annual report in writing to the Plenary Session provided any other person or group of persons may be directed by the NEC to submit an annual written report to the Plenary Session.
6. Apart from ADM and the Plenary Session, the Annual General Conference may also feature meetings of NEC as well as scientific sessions, teaching seminars and workshops and exhibitions not only of drugs and equipment but also clinical and scientific advances in the profession.
7. The ADM shall open with the recitation of the Physicians' Oath. It shall receive reports submitted at the Plenary Session and take decisions on them.
8. Composition of a Delegates' Meeting.
(a) All National Officers
(b) The immediate Past President
(c) The Immediate Past Secretary-General
(d) All Past Presidents who shall be entitled to vote individually as in 10(2).
(e) (i) All State branches and the FCT-Abuja branch shall be entitled to 5 delegates each.
(ii) In addition, one delegate shall represent every 200 members. The Chairman who shall be the head of the delegation, as well as the Secretary or their representatives, shall be among the State delegates.
(iii) Delegates from States shall be selected to reflect the various zones in the State.
(f) (i) Two delegates from each of the following affiliated Professional Groups:
- Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN).
- Nigerian Dental Association (NDA)
- National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD). - Medical and Dental Consultants' Association of Nigeria (MDCAN).
(ii) Any professional group wishing to be affiliated shall submit an application to that effect to the NEC which will consider the Rules and Regulations of the group and by 2/3 majority decision recommend the group to the ADM for affiliation. The ADM shall approve the recommendation of the NEC by 2/3 majority of delegates present at the ADM if so satisfied.
(iii) Upon affiliation, such a group shall resolve to be bound by the NMA Constitution and thereafter be entitled to be represented at the ADM by 2 delegates.
(g) President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
(h) Registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
(i) Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
(j) Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
9. Each State delegation and each affiliated body shall vote en-bloc while the National Officers and other delegates shall have one vote each.
10. All delegates must be financial members of the Association.
11. DELEGATES' MEETING
(a) Only accredited delegates and individual members of a Delegates' Meeting as set out in 7(8) shall be allowed to attend and participate at any Delegates' Meeting provided that:
(b) Any person can be invited to give information on any item on the agenda of the Delegates' Meeting by a 2/3 majority decision of the delegates. The person shall give his information, answer/ask questions from members and leave the meeting. The Delegates' Meeting shall not discuss the matter in his presence and he shall not participate in the discussion or in the meeting.
(c) Notwithstanding 7 (11) (a) & (b) above, 7 (11) (a) & (b) shall not apply to those who are employed/appointed to service and record the Delegates' Meeting provided they do not disturb or/and participate at the meeting for whatever reason.
12. CONFERENCE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
(a) The Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee of any Annual General Conference (AGC) if organized by a State/FCT - branch shall be the branch Chairman. He shall submit an audited account to the NEC within 6 months after the conference. If by 9 months an audited account has not been submitted to the NEC, NEC shall constitute itself into a Disciplinary Committee to try the Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee and any other member that might be connected with the organization of the Conference, provided that if anyone is found guilty, the provisions of Article 5(4) (a) shall apply.
(b) Where an audited account of an AGC is not acceptable, the NEC shall have the right to decide on the necessary action to redress the anomaly. Disciplinary actions may be taken against the State branch, the State Executive Council, all or individual officers or any member of the Association that might be involved.
(c) The Chairman of any Conference Organising Committee that organizes a conference for the Association shall submit its report within 3 months to be followed by an audited account of the conference within six months of the conclusion of the conference to NEC. The NEC shall have the power to decide on any irregularity discovered as it deems fit including taking any disciplinary action as in 7 (12) (a) above.
13. Where it appears to NEC that a Chairman of an AGC is unable or unwilling to carry out his functions, it shall have the power to appoint any member as Chairman of the AGC Organising Committee to replace the Chairman.