Establishment, etc., of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council

SECTION                                                                                       

1. Establishment of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
2. Composition of the Board.
3. Tenure of office.
4. Functions of the Council.
5. Powers of the Council.
6. Staff regulations.
7. Appointment of executives director and other employees of the Council.
8. Establishment of an export committee.
9. Fund of the Council.
10. Expenditure of the Council.
11. Annual estimates, accounts and audit.
12. Annual reports.
13. Regulations.
14. Repeal, savings and transfer of assets, liabilities, staff, etc.
15. Interpretation.
16. Short title.

SCHEDULE

Proceedings of the Board 

An Act to establish the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to promote the development and diversification of Nigeria's export trade, assist in promoting the development of export oriented industries in Nigeria and other related matters.
[1988 No. 41.]

[1st December, 1987]

                                                          [Commencement.]

Establishment, etc., of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council

1. Establishment of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council

(l) There is hereby established a body to be known as the Nigerian Export Promotion
Council (in this Act referred to as "the Council").

(2) The Council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common
seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

2. Composition of the Board

(1) There shall be a governing board of the Council (in this Act referred to as "the Board").

[1992 No. 64.)

(2) The Board shall consist of a chairman to be appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Minister and the following members-

       (a)       a representative each of the following Federal Ministries, that is to say-

                      (i)  Foreign Affairs;

                      (ii) Commerce;

(iii) Culture and Tourism;

       (b)       a representative of the Nigerian Customs Services;

       (c)        a representative each of the following associations, that is-

                      (i)  the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture;

(ii)  the Manufacturers' Association of Nigeria;

(iii) the Association of Nigerian Exporters;

(iv) the Farmers' Association; and    

       (d)       one person to be appointed by the Minister from the private sector who shall be
                  a person possessing practical experience in industry, commerce, finance and
                  export promotion; and

      (e)       the executive director of the Council.

[1992 No. 64.)

(3) The appointments under paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of this section shall be
made by the Minister on the recommendation of the appropriate association.

[1992 No. 64.]

(4) The provisions set out in the Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to
the tenure of office of members and proceedings of the Board and the other matters mentioned therein.

[Schedule.)

3. Tenure of office

(1) A member of the Board other than an ex-officio member shall, subject to the pro-
visions of this Act, hold office for a period of four years from the date of his appointment as a member and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a further period of two years;thereafter, he shall no longer be eligible for re-appointment.

[1992 No. 64.]

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the President may on the recommendation of the Minister require any member of the Board to vacate his office if his continued membership will not be in the interest of the Council.

[1992 No. 64.]

(3) Any member of the Board not being an ex-officio member may resign his appointment by a notice in writing under his hand addressed to the Minister.

[1992 No. 64.]

4. Functions of the Council 

(1) It shall be the special responsibility of the Council to-

       (a)       promote the development and diversification of Nigeria's export trade;

       (b)       assist in promoting the development of export-oriented industries in Nigeria;

       (c)        spearhead the creation of necessary export incentives;

       (d)       actively promote the implementation of export policies and programmes of the

Federal Government;

      (e)        co-ordinate and monitor export promotion activities in Nigeria.

(2)   The other functions of the Council shall be to-

                                (a)       collect and disseminate information on products available for export;

              (b)      collect and disseminate to local manufacturers and exporters information on foreign markets;

              (c)       provide technical assistance to local exporters in such areas as export procedure and documentation, transportation, financing,  
                         marketing techniques, quality control, export packaging, costing and pricing, publicity and in other similar areas;

                                (d)       maintain adequate and effective representation in other countries;

              (e)       provide, directly or jointly with training institutions, training for its staff and
                          assist with the manpower development of the export community in Nigeria;

              (f)        organise the participation of Nigeria in trade fairs and exhibitions in other countries;

              (g)       administer grants and other benefits related to export promotions and development;

              (h)       undertake studies of the current economic conditions, with special attention to the export sector with a view to advising government 
                         on necessary polices and measures;

              (i)        co-operate with other institutions on matters relating to export financing, export incentives and specialised services to exporters;

                         ( k )      engage in export promotion publicity; 

                          (l )        pursue the simplification and streamlining of export procedure and documentation on a continuous  basis;

                         ( m )     provide services to trade delegations on matters relating to export;

                           (n)      perform such other functions as may be conducive to the achievement of the objectives of this Act.

5. Powers of the Council

The Council shall have power to-

       (a)              receive within Nigeria or elsewhere, any trademarks, licences, protection or
concessions relating to export;

       (b)              subject to the Land Use Act, acquire, by purchase or lease, any landed property
required for its functions under this Act;

[Cap. L5.]

      (c)              invest in any activity which would facilitate the development or promotion of
exports;

      (d)              solicit for funds from sources other than its budgetary allocation and invest all
or any of such funds;

[1992 No. 64.]

       (e)                 exercise disciplinary control (including dismissal) over its employees.

6. Staff regulations

The Council may make staff regulations relating generally to the conditions of service
of the employees of the Council and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing,
such regulations may provide for-

       (a)      the appointment, promotion and disciplinary control of all employees of the
Council; and

       (b)       appeal by such employees against dismissal or other disciplinary measures,

and until such regulations are made, the regulations relating to the conditions of service of
officers in the civil service of the Federation and the provisions of the Pensions Act shall
be applicable with such modifications as may be necessary to the staff of the Council.

[Cap. P4. 1992 No. 64.]

7. Appointment of executive director and other employees of the Council

(I) There shall be appointed by the President, on the recommendation of the Council,
an executive director of the Council.

(2) The executive director shall be the chief executive of the Council and be responsible for the execution of the policy
of the Council and the day-to-day running of the affairs of the Council.

(3) The Council may appoint such other persons as it may determine to be employees
of the Council to assist the executive director in the performance of his functions under
this Act.

(4) The Council may, subject to such conditions as it may think fit, delegate any of its
powers relating to the appointment of or exercise of disciplinary control (including dis-
missal) over its employees to the executive director or to any other employees of the
Council.

(5) There shall be appointed by the Board a secretary who shall be a legal practitioner
with not less than ten years' post-qualification experience.

[1992 No. 64.]

8. Establishment of an export committee

(I) The Council may establish an export committee in each State of the Federation.
(2) The export committee shall-

      (a)       constitute a forum for the promotion of exportation of the principal export
products of that State;

      (b)       advise the Council on the best means of achieving the objectives of this Act in
the State;

      (c)        carry out such other functions as the Council may, from time to time, direct.

9. Fund of the Council

(1) The Council shall establish and maintain a fund which shall be applied towards
the attainment of the Council's objectives and from which shall be defrayed all expenditure incurred by the Council.

[1992 No. 64.]

(2) There shall be paid and credited to the fund established pursuant to subsection (I)
of this section-

       (a)       ten percent of levies of freight collected by the Nigerian Maritime Authority;

               (b)      such sums as may, from time to time, be granted to the Council by the Federal
Government;

              (c)       all monies raised for the purpose of the Council by way of gifts, grants-in-aid
and income from investments; and

       (d)      all subscriptions, fees and charges for services rendered by the Council and all
other sums as may accrue to the Council from any other source.

[1992 No. 64.]

10. Expenditure of the Council

The Council may, from time to time, apply the proceeds of the fund established pursu-
ant to section 9 of this Act to-

       (a)      meet the cost of administration of the Council and any research work carried
out by or on behalf of the Council with its approval;

       (b)       provide such training for the employees of the Council;

       (c)        pay the salaries and other allowances and benefits of its employees;

       (d)      reimburse members of the Council and committees of the Council as the Council may deem necessary;

      (e)        meet other expenses in connection with its functions and this Act.

11. Annual estimates, accounts and audit

(1) The Board shall cause to be prepared not later than 30 June in each year, an estimate of the expenditure and income of the Council during the next succeeding year and when prepared they shall be submitted to the Minister.

[1992 No. 64.]

(2) The Board shall cause to be kept proper accounts and proper records in relation
thereto and when certified by the Board such accounts shall be audited as provided in
subsection (3) of this section.

[1992 No. 64.]

(3) The accounts of the Council shall be audited within six months after the end of the
year by an external auditor appointed from the list and in accordance with the guidelines
supplied by the Auditor-General for the Federation.

[1992 No. 64.]

12. Annual reports

The Council shall, not later than six months after the end of each financial year, submit through the Minister to the President, a report of the activities of the Council and its administration during the immediately preceding year and shall include in such report the audited accounts of the Council and the auditor's comments thereon.

13. Regulations

The Council may make regulations for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
                                                               [1992 No. 64.]

14. Repeal, savings and transfer of assets, liabilities, staff, etc.

(l) The Nigerian Export Promotion Council Act 1976 is hereby repealed and the
Council established thereunder is hereby dissolved.

[1976 No. 26.]

(2) By virtue of this Act, there shall be vested in the Council all assets, funds, re-
sources and other movable or immovable property which immediately before the commencement of this Act were vested in the Council dissolved by and under subsection (1)of this section.

(3) The rights, interests, obligations and liabilities of the dissolved Council existing
before this Act under any contract or instrument, or in law or in equity apart from any
contract or instrument shall, by virtue of this Act, be assigned to and vested in the Council
established by this Act.

(4) Any such contract or instrument as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section
shall be of the same force and effect against or in favour of the Council established by this
Act and shall be enforceable as fully and effectively as if instead of the dissolved Council
the Council established by this Act has been named therein or had been a party thereto.

 (5) The Council shall be subject to all the obligations and liabilities to which the dissolved Council was subject immediately before the commencement of this Act and all other persons shall have the same rights, power and remedies against the Council as they had against the dissolved Council immediately before the commencement of this Act.

(6) Any proceedings or cause of action pending or existing immediately before the
commencement of this Act by or against the dissolved Council in respect of any right,
interest, obligation or liability of the dissolved Council may be continued or as the casemay be, commenced, and any determination of a court of law, tribunal or other authority or person may be enforced by or against the Council to the same extent that such proceedings, cause of action or determination might have been continued, commenced or enforced by or against the dissolved Council as if this Act had not been made.

(7) All assets, funds, resources and other movable or immovable property which immediately before the commencement of this Act were vested in the dissolved Council shall by virtue of this Act and without further assurance be vested in the Council.

(8) Notwithstanding the repeal of the enactment referred to in this section of this Act,
if the Council thinks it is expedient that any vacancy in the Council should be filled by a
person holding office at the commencement of this Act in the Council dissolved by this
section, it may employ such person by way of transfer to the Council and the previous
service in the dissolved Council by such person shall count as service for the purposes of
any pension subsequently payable by the Council.

I5. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

"Board" means the governing Board of the Council established by section 2 (1) of
this Act;

[1992 No. 64.]

"chairman" means the chairman of the Board;

                                                                 [1992 No. 64.]

"Council" means the Nigerian Export Promotion Council established under section 1
of this Act;

[1992 No. 64.]

"member" means any member of the Board and includes the chairman; and
[1992 No. 64.]

"Minister" means the Minister charged with the responsibility for matters relating to
commerce.

[1992 No. 64.]

16. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council Act.

SCHEDULE
  [Section 2 (4).]

Proceedings of the Board

1. (1) The Board shall meet for the conduct of business at such times, places and on such
days as the chairman may appoint but shall meet not less than twice in a year.

[1992 No. 64.]

    (2) The chairman may at any time, and shall at the request in writing of not less than six
members summon a meeting.

    (3) Particulars of the business to be transacted at any meeting shall be circulated to
members with the notice of the meeting of the Board.

[1992 No. 64.]

    (4) Every question put before the Board at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of
the votes of the members present and voting.

[1992 No. 64.]

   (5) Seven members shall form a quorum at any meeting of the Board. [1992 No. 64.]

    (6) The chairman shall, at any meeting, have a vote and in the case of an equality of
votes, may exercise a casting vote.

    (7) The chairman shall preside at every meeting of the Board but in his absence, the
members present shall elect one of their number present to preside at the meeting.

[1992 No. 64.]

    (8) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board may make standing orders with respect to the holding of meetings, the nature of notice to be given, the proceedings thereat, the keeping of minutes of such proceedings and the custody and production for inspection of such minutes.

[1992 No. 64.]

Committees

2. (1) The Board may appoint one or more committees to advise it on the exercise and performance of its functions under this Act.

[1992 No. 64.]
(2) Every such committee shall consist of-

                                  (a)   a chairman who shall be appointed by the Board from among the members of
the Board;

                                 (b)   not more than five persons (who may or may not be members of the Board), so
however that any non-members of the Board co-opted to serve on any committee shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of a member except the right to
vote and be counted towards a quorum.

[1992 No. 64.]

(3) In this paragraph, "chairman" means the chairman of a committee.

Miscellaneous

3. (1) Any contract or instrument which if entered into or executed by a person not being a
body corporate would not be required to be under seal, may be entered into or executed on
behalf of the Council by any person generally or specifically authorised in that behalf by the
Board.

[1992 No. 64.]