Articles I:

NAME

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The union shall be known by the name of The Union of Campus Journalists
(U. C. J.), University of Ibadan; hereinafter referred to as the Union.

Articles II:

MOTTO AND INSIGNIA

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(1)               The motto of the Union shall be “Freedom championed by the pen”

(2)               The insignia of the of the Union shall be a pen piercing through chained hands.

Article III:

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

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The aim of the Union shall be to promote the essence of campus journalism, while providing an umbrella body for all campus journalists for the protection of the interests of the members and those of the public.

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The objectives of the Union shall be to:

(1)               to ensure harmony among press organisations on the campus.

(2)               to encourage and promote press publications on the campus.

(3)               to provide a forum for resolving problems affecting member press club/organisations and generating promoting and pursuing common interests.

(4)               react to campus, national and international issues through press releases.

(5)               discourage all forms of press censorship on the campus.

(6)               to recommend prices and standards of publications of member press clubs/organisations.

Article IV:

SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION

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(1)               This constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all members of the union.

(2)               If any other law, resolution, or directive is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail and such law, resolution or directive shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be null and void.

Article V:

ORGANS OF THE UNION AND POWERS

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The organs of the Union shall be:

(1)               the Secretariat

(2)               the Senate

(3)               Guild of Editors

(4)               UCJ General Congress

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THE SECRETARIAT

(1)               the secretariat shall be composed of:

(a)    President

(b)   Vice President Administration

(c)    Vice President Editorial

(d)   General Secretary

(e)    Assistant General Secretary

(f)     Public Relations Officer

(g)    Financial Secretary

(h)    Treasurer

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DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

(1)               THE PRESIDENT shall:

(a)    supervise and coordinate all aspects of the Unions activities.

(b)   be a member of the press council of the University.

(c)    decide the time and venue of the Union General Congress or Senate Meeting in conjunction with the General Secretary, and preside over such meetings.

(d)   be a co-signatory to the accounts of the Union.

(e)    take an inventory of the Union’s property.

(f)     perform other duties assigned to him by the senate, the congress or the secretariat, or allocated to him under other sections of this constitution.

(2)               THE PRESIDENT may delegate duties to other members of the executive when necessary.

(3)               THE VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATION shall:

(a)    deputise for the president in his absence or when necessary

(b)   advise and assist the president in the performance of his/her duties

(c)    shall be the chairman of the Social Committee UCJ Week Committee

(d)   perform other duties assigned to him/her by the president, the senate or the congress, or allocated to him/her under other sections of this constitution.

(4)               THE VICE PRESIDENT EDITORIAL shall:

(a)    be the Editor-in-Chief of the Union’s Editorial Board

(b)   be the chairman of the Guild of Editors

(c)    summon and preside over the meetings of the Guild of Editors

(d)   in conjunction with the Guild of Editors oversee all publications of the Union

(e)    in conjunction with the Guild of Editors constitute the Editorial Board of the Union

(f)     perform all other duties assigned to him/her by the president, the senate or the congress, or allocated to him under other sections of this constitution.

(5)               THE GENERAL SECRETARY shall:

(a)    be the secretarial head of the Union

(b)   on the directive of the president, summon the executive, senate and congress meetings

(c)    write and keep minutes of meetings and attendance records of such meetings

(d)   keep the record of registered press organisations on the campus

(e)    carry out all secretarial duties of the Union

(f)     advise the president in the performance of his/her duties

(g)    perform all other duties assigned to him/her by the president, the senate or the congress, or allocated to him/her under other sections of this constitution

(6)               THE ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY shall:

(a)    be the clerk of the senate and the general congress

(b)   assist the General Secretary in the performance in his duties

(c)    be directly responsible to the General Secretary

(d)   perform other duties allocated to him/her under other sections of this constitution

(7)               THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER shall:

(a)    be the chairman of the Publicity/Mobilisation Committee

(b)   be the head of the information unit and the image maker of the Union

(c)    circulate press releases of the union

(d)   be responsible for internal and external publicity of the Union

(e)    be responsible for the distribution of notices of meetings

(f)     make public statements on behalf of the union as may be directed by the executive, the senate or the congress

(g)    perform other duties as may be assigned to him/her from time to time

(8)               THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY shall:

(a)    receive and keep all records of all the Union’s monies

(b)   hand over to the treasurer all monies so received within 48 hours

(c)    read or state before the senate and the congress the budget of the Union secretariat

(d)   be a co-signatory to the Union’s account

(e)    calculate with the president and the treasurer the income and expenditure of the Union

(f)     keep the Union’s financial record of registered press organisations

(g)    be the chairman of the finance committee

(h)    perform any other duties assigned to him by the senate, the congress or the executive.

(9)               THE TREASURER shall

(a)    keep an imprest, the amount of which shall from time to time be determined by the senate

(b)   receive all monies from the financial secretary within 48 hours of the collection of such

(c)    be a co-signatory to the Union’s account

(d)   in conjunction with the financial secretary, present the budget of the secretariat to the senate

(e)    perform all other duties assigned to him/her by the Executive, the Senate or the congress.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE OTHER ORGANS

(1)                  THE SENATE shall:

(a)    be composed of the executive council, all editors-in-chief and 3 editors from each of the member press organizations

(b)    be a decision-making body of the Union

(c)    have the power to debate proposals of the secretariat and give approval to them if satisfied

(d)    have the power to summon the Union’s Congress by a resolution passed by two-third (2/3) majority of senators present

(e)    table before the Union’s congress any matter(s) not resolved at a senate sitting

(f)      have the power to impeach any officer whenever it deems fit

(g)    have the power to approve or reject the budget of the executive

(h)    guide the management, functions, and activities of the Union

(i)      forward matters to the congress.

(2)                  THE GUILD OF EDITORS shall:

(a)    be headed by the Vice President (Editorial)

(b)    consist of all editors-in-chief of member press organisations

(c)    appoint a secretary from within the body

(d)    handle all publications of the Union

(3)                  THE GENERAL CONGRESS shall:

(a)    be summoned by either the president, the executive, or the senate

(b)    resolve all matters arising from the senate

(c)    meet on the request of 50% of registered member press organisations

(d)    meet at the instance of 25 persons from different member press organizations and be presided over by a representative of such if the president refuses to summon a congress meeting

(e)    dismiss any officer by a motion passed by at least 2/3 majority of members present

(f)      pass, reject or adopt any motion

(g)    meet at least once in a semester

(h)    have the final say in all matter pertaining to the Union

Article VI:

MEETINGS

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(1)    At every meeting of the Union, the member that forms a quorum shall be 1/3 of members of the respective organs, as at the time

(2)    At all meetings of the respective organs, members are expected to maintain a high level of decorum.

(3)    Any member who indulges in any act that may be frowned at by the Union shall be liable to disciplinary action.

(4)    For the Union general congress, 25 members from different member press organisations  shall form a quorum.

Article VII:

MODUS OPERANDI

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ACTIVITIES

(1)   in realisation of the aim and objectives of the Union as spelt out in this document, the Union shall carry out the following activities :

(a)    Organization of symposia, debates, lectures, tours, exhibition, film shows and publication of the Union’s annual magazine.

(b)    Organization of press forum for contestants at hall, faculty and central students’ Union Executive level.

(c)    Organization of press forums for the University administrators to bridge the communication gap between the students and the University authority.

(d)    Organization of press forums for office holders at hall, faculty and central students’ Union levels, to give them the opportunity to give their account of stewardship to the students.

COMMITTEES

(1)   SOCIAL WELFARE COMMITTEE shall

(a)    be responsible for the organization of the Union’s annual press week

(b)   be responsible for the organization of symposia, lectures, talks, tours, excursion, film shows, and other social functions of the Union

(c)    be made up of a number to be determined by the senate, which should include the Vice President (Administration) as chairman, and Union General Secretary

(d)   be responsible for the welfare of all members of the Union.

(2)   FINANCE COMMITTEE shall:

(a)    be responsible for raising funds for the Union

(b)   be responsible for sourcing sponsorship for the Union’s programmes

(c)    be made up of a number to be determined by the executive council

(3)   PUBLICITY AND MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE shall

(a)    be responsible for both internal and external publicity of the Union’s activities

(b)   be responsible for the mobilization of members for the Union’s activities

(c)    be made up of number to be determined by the executive council

(d)   be headed by the Public Relations Officer

(4)   DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE shall

(a)    try an act(s) of indecorum, misdemeanour, or public misconduct committed by any member of the Union

(b)   determine the degree of punishment based on the gravity of offence committed

(c)    if it deems fit refer any case to the Student’s Affairs office

(d)   be made up of a number to be determined by the senate.

(5)   ELECTORAL COMMITTEE shall:

(a)    be responsible for the conduct of elections into the secretariat

(b)   be made up of 5 members to be nominated by the senate

(c)    receive complaints over an election and make its recommendations known to the senate for ratification or rejection.

ELECTIONS

(1)   The terms of office shall be one academic session, after which there shall be a fresh election.

(2)   Elections shall be held at the end of the second semester of every session.

(3)   The incumbent executive shall stand dissolved before the commencement of a fresh election.

(4)   The electoral committee shall oversee the election of new officers.

(5)   To qualify for election, such person shall be members of those press clubs/organizations that have fulfilled their financial obligations.

(6)   Any member who is serving a punitive measure either with the University or the Union as at the time of any election shall not be eligible to contest for election.

(7)   There shall not be more than five nominations for an elective posts.

(8)   There shall be a bye-election when an office becomes vacant due to death, resignation, absconding or impeachment by vote of no confidence.

(9)   Honorary members shall not vote during deliberations/elections unless otherwise agreed by members

(10)    Aspirant to the post of Vice President (Editorial) must have:

(a)    been a member of the Union for at least one session

(b)   been an editor in his/her local press organization.

MEMBERSHIP

(1)    Membership of the UCJ shall be composed of all duly registered press organizations on the campus.

(2)    The press organizations shall be hall, faculty/departmental, Students’ Union, and individual press organizations.

(3)    Membership shall not be open to individuals, but to press organizations.

HONORARY MEMBERS

(1)   The senate shall have the power to appoint dignitaries/personalities deemed fit for honorary membership.

(2)   Honorary members shall be veteran journalists, other members of the press, legal practitioners and any other person(s) as the senate may deem fit.

REGISTRATION

(1)    All press organizations referred to in S.12(2) shall register with the Union at the beginning of every academic session.

Article VIII:

PATRONS, ADVISERS, AND CORPORATE SPONSORS

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(1)   The Union executive shall appoint from time to time individuals, groups or organizations to serve as patrons, advisers or corporate sponsors of the Union.

(2)   Such appointments are subject to the approval of the Senate.

(3)   Such patrons, groups or organisations to be so appointed must have proved their worth and advanced the cause of journalism.

(4)   Patrons can also be appointed from within the campus community.

(5)   There shall be a committee under the office of the President to ensure proper/effective communication with patrons/advisers in order to ensure the realisation of the Union’s aim and objectives.

(6)   Patrons and advisers are expected to attend all ceremonial functions of the Union.

(7)   The Union shall have the power to withdraw the appointment of any patron or adviser if such a patron or adviser fails to live up to expectation.

Article IX:

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THE PRESS COUNCIL

(1)   The President of the Union and the Vice President (Editorial) shall be members of the Press Council.

(2)   The Union’s representatives in the Press Council shall vehemently advance the cause of campus journalism and shall defend it as at when due.

(3)   The Union shall withdraw its membership of the Press Council if the latter is found perpetuating any act(s) opposed to democracy, natural justice and equity.

(4)   As long as the Union remains part of the Press Council, all decision taken shall be binding on the Union.

Article X:

CODE OF CONDUCT

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CONDUCT DURING MEETINGS

(1)   There shall be no interruption while a member is speaking, except on a point of order, information, or correction.

(2)   Members shall seek permission, by showing of hands, from the presiding officer and, upon recognition, address the house, standing.

(3)   Any person interrupted on the above sub-section (1) must hold on and listen to the speaker, and may continue later if he/she so desire.

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Any member who indulges in any act(s) capable of tarnishing the images of the Union shall be liable to penalties commensurate with the degree of the offence.

Article XI:

FINANCE

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The funding of the Union shall be through :

(1)   capitation fee and sessional dues paid by press organisations duly registered with the Union

(2)   donations from well-meaning individuals

(3)   monies realized from film shows and other similar events

(4)   money from the sale of the Union’s annual magazine

Article XII:

STANDING ORDERS FOR THE SENATE

Document 1

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QUORUM

(1)   At least 1/3 of the members of the senate shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the senate.

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VOTING

(1)   Each member of the senate is entitled to one vote.

(2)   Voting shall be by secrete ballot, except otherwise decided.

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MOTIONS

(1)   Any motion can be moved at any time.

(2)   Each motion must be duly supported otherwise it shall lapse.

(3)   There shall be room for a counter motion to an original motion.

(4)   Any motion countered shall be put to vote.

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POINT OF ORDER

(1)   A point of order when raised must be heard at all times except during voting

(2)   All points of order must relate to conduct of the meeting.

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POINT OF INFORMATION

(1)   Point of information on issues will be heard by the consent of the presiding officer.

(2)   The presiding officer shall have the power to over rule.

Document 2

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POINT OF DEBATE

(1)   A member of the senate shall stand up when speaking, and shall address the president and members of the senate.

(2)   Debates must be addressed to the immediate pressing issues.

(3)   The presiding officer shall rule out on point of order any speaker that fails to adhere to this order.

(4)   A member shall not speak more than once on the same motion except no other person is ready to speak on it.

(5)   The proposer of a motion shall have the express right to accept or reject any amendment to his/her motion.

(6)   A member of the senate shall only speak when recognized by the presiding officer.

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MODES OF ADDRESS

(1)   Members shall address the senate thus: the President, members of the high table, distinguished gentlemen of the press.

(2)   The president/presiding officer shall address the senate thus: distinguished gentlemen of the press.

(3)   All members shall stand up when addressing the senate.

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The president/presiding officer shall

(1)   kangaroo any issue under debate

(2)   defer any kangarooed issue to a subsequent senate meeting

(3)   give priority to a kangarooed issue at a subsequent meeting.

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ADJOURNMENT

(1)   Motion for adjournment shall be moved and seconded when the presiding officer is satisfied with the deliberations of the day.

Article XII:

AFFILIATIONS

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(1)   The UCJ is an affiliate of the Nigeria Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ)

(2)   The UCJ shall be an affiliate of any other body or union as may be deemed necessary from time to time by the senate.

Article XIV :

AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

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(1)   No part of this constitution shall be amended except in accordance with the procedure hereafter provided.

(2)   All proposals for amendment of any provision of this constitution shall be in writing to the Executive Council.

(3)   Upon receipt of such proposals, the Executive Council shall refer the proposals to the senate.

(4)   If by 2/3 majority, the senate votes in favour of the proposals, the senate shall constitute a Constitution Amendment/Review Committee.

(5)   The recommendations of the Constitution Amendment/Review Committee shall thereafter be presented to Executive Council which shall in turn submit same to the senate.

(6)   If by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members present at the senate meeting such proposals are accepted, then the constitutional provision(s) in question shall be deemed amended.