NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT ACT

(1) There is established the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (in this Act referred to as “the Centre”).
(2) The Centre -
(a) shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession; and
(b) may sue and be sued in its corporate name.
(3) The headquarters of the Centre, shall be located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and shall have branch offices in each of the six geopolitical zones.

(1) There is hereby established for the management of the affairs of the Centre, a Governing Council to be known as Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development Council (in this Act referred to as “the Council”) which shall have general control of the Centre.
(2) The Council shall consist of-
(a) a chairman;
(b) six other members, one of which shall be a representative of women with disability drawn from each of the six geopolitical zones; and
(c) the Director-General of the Centre.
(3) The chairman and other members of the Council shall be-
(a) be appointed by the President; and
(b) persons with proven integrity, who also have excelled and distinguished themselves in women and children activities.
(4) The supplementary provisions contained in the Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the proceedings of the Council and other matters mentioned therein.

(1) The members of the Council appointed under section 2 (2) (a) and (b) of this Act shall hold office for a period of 4 years in the first instance and may be eligible for reappointment for a further period of 4 years and no more.
(2) The members of the Council shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as the President may, from time to time, determine.
(3) A member of the Council other than an ex-officio member, may resign his appointment by a notice in writing under his hand, addressed to the President and which resignation shall take effect only upon acknowledgement by the President.

(1) A member of the Council shall cease to hold office if-
(a) he becomes of unsound mind; or
(b) he becomes bankrupt or makes a compromise with his creditors; or
(c) he is convicted of a felony or of any offence involving dishonesty; or
(d) he is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties.
(2) A member of the Council may be removed from office by the President, if, he is satisfied that it is not in the interest of the Centre or the interest of the public that the member should continue in office.
(3)
Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Council, it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor, so however that the successor shall represent the same interest and shall be appointed by the President

(1) The Centre shall primarily be charged with responsibility to stimulate consciousness towards the attainment of higher levels of development and activity for Nigerian women and promote international co-operation for the attainment of this objective.
(2) In pursuance of the purposes set out in subsection (1) of this section, the Centre shall-
(a) promote research into the activities and achievements of women;
(b) serve as a data bank on women and development in Nigeria;
(c) facilitate the formulation of policies affecting women primarily in areas such as education, employment, health and finance;
(d) provide training in skill development, income generation activities and serve as a training ground for managers and leaders;
(e) provide a forum for guidance, counselling and mobilisation of women in both urban and rural areas; and
(f) liaise with national, regional and international agencies involved in women development programmes.
(g) develop measurable parameters and strategic framework to stimulate creative and constructive ideas for enhancing the overall capacity of women;
(h) developed capacity building on gender and governance to support the activities of women in leadership positions and responsibilities;
(i) initiate campaign that will support women in leadership position to become effective instrument towards achieving democratic and development sustainability;
(j) network and build reliable partnership with development organisations to support such initiatives that engender women effective participation in governance; and
(k) formulate policies on social protection and welfare of women and children.

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the Council shall be responsible for-
(a) the review of the implementation of policy decisions;
(b) designing developmental programmes and activities for the advancement of women;
(c) approving the management budget and the appointment of staff for the Centre;
(d) convening meetings for the purpose of disseminating information on the activities of the Centre;
(e) generally ensuring effective planning, running and success of the Centre in its bid to promote and develop the advancement of women in Nigeria;
(f) developing, controlling and maintaining buildings and facilities in the Centre in good condition fit for the purpose they were established; and
(g)
carrying out such other activities as are necessary and expedient for the purpose of achieving the objectives set out in this section of this Act.
(2) The Council shall also have power to carry out such activities as may appear to it to be incidental or conducive to the attainment of its objects under this Act.
(3) The Council shall, from time to time, assess the research consultancy and training programmes relative to productivity and improvement conducted by the State branches of the Centre with other associated institutions with a view to ascertaining their suitability to offering them assistance either alone or in co-operation with other professional bodies as may improve the quality and content of productivity and promotion measures for women in Nigeria.
(4)
The Council may, subject to such conditions as it may impose, delegate any of the powers conferred on it by this Act (including power to appoint and exercise disciplinary control) to any of its committees or the Director General of the Centre, as the case may be.
(5) Nothing in this section shall preclude the Council from exercising any of the powers delegated pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

(1) There shall be appointed for the Centre, an Director General who shall be appointed by the President.
(2) The Director General shall subject to the direction of the Council, be-
(a) responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the Council and the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the Centre;
(b) responsible for keeping proper records of the proceedings of the Council; and
(c) the head of the Council's secretariat and responsible for the administration thereof and direction and control of all other employees of the Centre with the approval of the Council.
(3) The Director General shall hold office for a period of four years in the first instance and may be eligible for re-appointment for a further period of four years and no more.

(1) The Centre shall appoint an officer to be known as the Secretary to the Council, subject to the ratification of the Council, who shall perform the functions of keeping the record of proceedings and decisions of the Council arid such other functions as the Council may, from time to time, directdecisions of the Council and such other functions as the Council may, from time to time, direct.
(2) The Council shall have power to appoint either on transfer or on secondment from any public service in the Federation, such number of employees as may, in the opinion of the Council, be required to assist the Centre in the discharge of any of its functions under this Act; and shall have power to pay to persons so employed such remuneration (including allowances) as the Council may, from time to time, determine.
(3) The terms and conditions of service (including terms and conditions as to remuneration, allowances, pensions, gratuities and other benefits) of the persons employed by the Centre shall be as determined by the Council from time to time.

(1) The Council may, subject to the provisions of this Act, make staff regulations relating generally to the conditions of service of the employees of the Centre and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may provide for-
(a) the appointment, promotion and disciplinary control (including dismissal) of employees of the Centre; and
(b)
appeals by such employees against dismissal or other disciplinary measures,
and until such regulations are made, any instrument relating to the conditions of service of officers in the civil service of the Federation shall be applicable, with such modifications as may be necessary, to the employees of the Centre.
(2)
Staff regulations made under subsection (1) of this section shall not have effect until approved by the Council and when so approved they need not be published in the Gazette but the Council shall cause them to be brought to the notice of all affected persons in such manner as it may, from time to time, determine.

(1)
It is hereby declared that service in the Centre shall be public service for the purposes of the Pensions Act and, accordingly, officers and other persons employed in the Centre shall, in respect of their service in the Centre, be entitled to pension, gratuities and other retirement benefits as are prescribed thereunder, so however that nothing in this Act shall prevent the appointment of a person to any office on terms which preclude the grant of a pension or gratuity in respect of that office.
[Cap. P4.]
(2) For the purposes of the application of the provisions of the Pensions Act, any power exercisable thereunder by a Minister or other authority of the Government of the Federation (not being the power to make regulations under section 23 thereof) is hereby vested in and shall be exercisable by the Council and not by any other person or authority.

(1) There shall be paid and credited to the Centre established by this Act-
(a) the annual subvention received from the Federal Government;
(b) such money as may, from time to time, be lent, deposited with or granted to the Centre by the Government of the Federation, of a State or local government;
(c) all subventions, fees and charges for services rendered or publications made by the Centre; and
(d) all other assets which may, from time to time, accrue to the Centre.
(2)
The Centre shall be managed in accordance with rules to be made by the Council and without prejudice to the generality of the power to make rules under this subsection, the rules shall in particular contain provisions-
(a) specifying the manner in which the assets of the Centre are to be held and regulating the making of payments into and out of the Centre; and
(b) requiring the keeping of proper accounts and records for the purposes of the Centre in such form as may be specified in the rules.
(3) The Council may, from time to time, apply the proceeds of the Centre for the following purposes-
(a) the cost of administration of the Centre and the Council;
(b)
the payment of salaries, fees and other remuneration, allowances, pension and gratuities payable to members or employees of the Centre or experts or professionals appointed by the Council.

The Council shall not later than 31 October submit to the President an estimate of its expenditure and income during the next succeeding year.

All expenses incurred in the administration of the Centre shall be paid by the Council out of the monies of the Centre.

The Council shall have powers to award contracts subject to the provisions of existing laws on procurement

(1) The Council may accept gifts of land, money or other property upon such terms and conditions, if any, as may be specified by the person or organisation making the gift.
(2) The Council shall not accept any gift if the condition attached by the person or organisation making the gift are inconsistent with the objectives of the Centre under this Act.

(1) The Council shall be exempted from the payment of income tax on any income accruing from investments made by the Council or otherwise howsoever.
(2) The provisions of any enactment relating to the taxation of companies or trust funds shall not apply to the Council or the Centre.

(1) The Council shall cause to be prepared not later than 30 September in each year an estimate of the expenditure and income of the Centre during the next succeeding year and when prepared, they shall be submitted to the President.
(2) The Council shall cause to be kept proper accounts of the Centre and proper records in relation thereto and when certified by the Council, such accounts shall be audited by auditors appointed by the Council from the list and in accordance with the guidelines supplied by the Auditor-General for the Federation.

The Council shall, notwithstanding the provisions of section 19 of this Act and at the end of every three months, submit to the President a report on its activities and administration of the Council in relation to the Centre for onward transmission to the National Assembly.

The Council shall not later than three months before the end of each year submit to the National Assembly a report on the activities and the administration of the Council in relation to the Centre during the immediately preceding year and shall include in such reports the auditor's report thereon.

(1) All manufacturing and industrial concerns, organisations, by the Council shall be eligible for election for associate membership of the Centre and on election, shall be conferred with such rights as the Council may, from time to time, determine.
(2) The Council shall prescribe the fees payable by organisations and persons elected as associate members of the Centre.

All assets, funds, resources and other movable or immovable property which immediately before the commencement of this Act, were vested in the body known and referred to as the Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development (in this Part of this Act referred to as "the Centre existing before the commencement of this Act") shall by virtue of this Act and without further assurance, be vested in the Centre established by this Act.

(1) Accordingly, the functions, rights, interests, obligations and liabilities of the Centre existing before the commencement of 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 deemed to have been assigned to and vested in the Centre established by this Act.
(2)
Any such contract or instrument as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, shall be of the same force and effect against or in favour of the Centre established by this Act and shall be enforceable as fully and effectively as if instead of the Centre existing before the commencement of this Act, the Centre established by this Act has been named therein or has been a party thereto.
(3) The Centre established by this Act shall be subject to all the obligations and liabilities to which the Centre existing before the commencement of this Act was subject immediately before the commencement of this Act and all other persons shall have the same rights, powers and remedies against the Centre established by this Act as they had against the Centre existing before the commencement of this Act.
(4) Any proceedings or cause of action pending or existing immediately before the commencement of this Act, by or against the Centre existing before the commencement of this Act, in respect of any right, interest, obligation or liability of the Centre existing before the commencement of this Act may be continued or as the case may be, commenced and any determination of a court of law, tribunal or other authority or person may be enforced by or against the Centre established by this Act to the same extent that such proceedings or cause of action or determination might have been continued, commenced or enforced by or against the Centre existing before the commencement of this Act.
(5) Any person who immediately before the coming into force of this Act is the holder of any office in the Centre existing before the commencement of this Act shall, on the commencement of this Act, continue in office and be deemed to have been appointed to his office by the Centre established by this Act.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the President may give to the Council such directives of a general nature with regard to the exercise by the Council of its functions under this Act and it shall be the duty of the Council to comply with the directives.

The President may make such regulations as he deems to be necessary or expedient for giving full effect to the provisions of this Act.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Centre” means Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, established in section 1 of this Act;
“Council” means Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development Council, established in section 2 of this Act.
"Director General" means the Director General appointed under section 7 of this Act;
"secretary" means the secretary to the Council appointed under section 8 of this Act.

This Act may be cited as the National Centre for Women Development (Amendment) Act, 2023.