Section 1: Establishment of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria

(1) There is hereby established a body to be known as the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (in this Act referred to as "the Institute") which shall be a body corporate under that name and be charged with the general duty of-
(a) determining what standards of knowledge and skill are to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the Chartered Secretaryship and Administrators and raising those standards from time to time, as circumstances may permit;
(b) securing in accordance with the provisions of this Act the establishment and maintenance of a register of fellows, associates and registered members entitled to practise as chartered secretaries and administrators and the publication from time to time of lists of those persons; and
(c) performing through the Council established by section 3 of this Act the functions conferred on it by this Act.
(2) The Institute shall have perpetual succession and a common seal which shall be kept in such custody as the Council may, from time to time, authorise.
(3) The Institute may sue and be sued in its corporate name and may subject to the Land Use Act, hold, acquire and dispose of any property movable or immovable.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, members admitted to the Institute shall-
(a) be enrolled as chartered secretaries and administrators in the category of-
(i) fellows; or
(ii) associates; or
(b) be registered as graduates.
(5) Persons accorded status as Chartered Secretaries and Administrators by the Council established by section 3 of this Act shall be entitled to the use of that name and shall be enrolled as-
(a) fellows, if they are at least 25 years of age and-
(i) have eight years' relevant working experience in the office of one or more organisations;
(ii) have, for at least three years in the past ten years, held a relevant senior appointment in one or more organisations;
(iii) are holders of the certificate of the final examinations of the Institute and approved academic professional qualifications; and
(iv) are otherwise considered by the Council to be fit persons to be so enrolled;
(b) associates, if they are 21 years of age or over and-
(i) have passed any examination prescribed or accepted by the Institute;
(ii) have at least six years' relevant working experience in the office of one or more organisations, so however that the period of six years may be reduced by up to three years in respect of time already spent in full time higher education approved by the Institute.
(6) The designatory letters of the-
(a) Fellows of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be "FCIS";
(b) Associates of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be "ACIS";
(c) Graduates of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be "Grad ICSA" which shall be a temporary grade, during which a member may either apply for membership as an associate or a fellow of the Institute.