NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CULTURAL ORIENTATION ACT

(1) There is hereby established a body to be known as the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (in this Act referred to as "the Institute") which shall have the functions assigned to it by this Act.
(2) The Institute shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue or be sued in its corporate name.

(1) The governance of the Institute and the direction of its affairs shall vest in the Board of Governors of the Institute (in this Act referred to as "the Board").
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, it shall be the responsibility of the Board to consider and approve-
(a) the programme, policy direction and the long-range plan and programme of activities of the Institute; and
(b) the annual budget of the Institute.
(3) The Board shall consist of a chairman to be appointed by the President, and the following other members, that is-
(a) a representative each of the following Federal Ministries-
(i) Culture and Tourism;
(ii) Education;
(b) a representative each of-
(i) the National Universities Commission;
(ii) the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs;
(iii) the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies;
(iv) the Centre for Management Development;
(v) the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation;
(vi) the National Council for Arts and Culture;
(vii) the National Commission for United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation in Nigeria; and
(c) the Executive Secretary.
(4) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, a person appointed as a member of the Board (not being an ex-officio member) shall hold office for three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for one further period of three years and no more.
(5) The President may terminate the appointment of a member of the Board (not being an ex-officio member) if satisfied that it is not in the interest of the Institute or the Board that the person concerned should continue in office.
(6)
The supplementary provisions contained in the Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the proceedings of the Board and the other matters therein mentioned.
[Schedule.]

(1) The objectives of the Institute shall be to-
(a) serve as a focus for orientation in cultural matters for Nigerian policy makers;
(b) promote, revive, develop and encourage Nigeria's culture and history.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of subsection (1) of this Act, it shall be the functions of the Institute to-
(a) promote public enlightenment of the various facets of Nigeria's culture;
(b) build up personnel and materials for innovative study and development of Nigeria's culture and history;
(c) promote and develop relevant curricula aimed at integrating Nigeria's culture into the educational system at all levels;
(d) promote Nigeria's cultural image;
(e) sponsor and undertake research into all aspects of Nigeria's arts and culture;
(f) promote or undertake any other activity which, in the opinion of the Board, is calculated to help achieve the purposes of the Institute; and
(g) do anything or enter into any transaction which in the opinion of the Board is necessary to ensure the proper performance of its functions under this Act.

The Board shall be responsible for-(a) managing and superintending the affairs of the Institute;
(b) the overall policy and general administration of the Institute;
(c) determining the programme of activities of the Institute;
(d) working closely with the management of the Institute to ensure smooth operation of the affairs of the Institute;
(e) approving annual report and statement of accounts of the Institute;
(f) appointing and approving fees for external auditors; and
(g) carrying out such other activities connected with or incidental to the other functions of the Board.

The Board shall have power-(a) to acquire offices and other premises for the use of the Institute;
(b) to fix terms and conditions of service, including remuneration of the employees of the Institute;
(c) to do such other things as are necessary for the successful performance of its functions under this Act.

(1) There shall be appointed by the President for the Institute an Executive Secretary, who shall be the chief executive of the Institute and be responsible to the Board for the detailed management of the affairs of the Institute.
(2) The Executive Secretary shall be responsible for the execution of the policies and programmes of the Institute and its day-to-day administration.
(3) The Executive Secretary shall hold office in the first instance for a period of five years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for such further period as the President may determine.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Executive Secretary shall hold office on such terms as to emolument and otherwise as may be specified in his letter of appointment.

(1) There may be appointed from time to time by the Board, such other staff as may be required for the purposes of the efficient performance of the functions conferred on the Institute under or pursuant to this Act.
(2) The Board may, subject to the provisions of this Act, make staff regulations relating generally to the conditions of service of the employees of the Institute 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 Institute; 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 public officers shall be applicable, with such modifications as may be necessary, to the employees of the Institute.
(3)
Staff regulations made under subsection (2) of this section, shall not have effect until approved by the President and, when so approved, they need not be published in the Gazette but the Board 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)
Notwithstanding the provisions of the Pensions Act, it is hereby declared that service in the Institute shall be approved service for the purposes of that Act and, accordingly, officers and other persons employed in the Institute shall, in respect of their service in the Institute, be entitled to pensions, gratuities and other retirement benefits as are enjoyed by persons holding equivalent grades in the public service of the Federation, 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 and gratuity in respect of that office.
(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, other than the power to make regulations under section 23 thereof, is hereby vested in and shall be exercisable by the Board and not by any other authority.

(1) The Board shall establish and maintain a fund which shall he applied towards the promotion of the objectives and functions specified in this Act.
(2) There shall be paid and credited to the fund established pursuant to subsection (1) of this section-
(a) such sums as may be provided by the Government of the Federation or of a State for payment into the fund;
(b) fees charged for services rendered by the Institute; and
(c) subject to section 10 (2) of this Act, all sums accruing to the Institute by way of gifts, testamentary disposition and endowments or contributions from philanthropic persons or organisations or otherwise howsoever.

(1) The Board 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 Board shall not accept any gift if the conditions attached by the person or organisation making the gift to the acceptance thereof, are inconsistent with the functions of the Institute.

(1) The Board may, with the consent or in accordance with the general authority given by the Federal Government, borrow by way of loan or overdraft, from any source, any monies required by the Institute for meeting its obligations and discharging its functions under this Act.
(2) The Institute may, subject to the provisions of this Act and the conditions of any trust created in respect of any property, invest all or any of its funds with the like consent or general authority.
(3) The Board may invest any surplus funds of the Institute in such securities as may be approved by the Federal Government.

(1)
The Board shall cause to be prepared not later than 31 October in each year, an estimate of the expenditure and income of the Institute during the next succeeding financial year and when prepared, they shall be submitted to the President through the Ministry.
(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.
(3) The accounts of the Institute shall be audited as soon as may be after the end of each year by auditors appointed from the list of auditors and in accordance with the guidelines supplied by the Auditor-General for the Federation, and the fees of the auditors and the expenses of the audit generally shall be paid from the funds of the Institute.

The Institute shall, not later than 30 September in each year, submit to the President a report on the activities of the Institute and its administration during the immediately preceding year and shall include in such report the audited accounts of the Institute.

The Institute shall establish and maintain a library comprising such books, records, reports, guides, catalogues, creative bibliographies and other publications as may be directed by the Board for innovative study and advancement of Nigeria's culture and history for research purposes and for other purposes connected with the functions conferred on the Institute by or pursuant to this Act.

The Board may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations generally for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"Board" means the Board of Governors of the Institute constituted as provided in section 2 of this Act;
"chairman" means the chairman of the Board;
"Institute" means the National Institute for Cultural Orientation established by section 1 of this Act;
"member" includes the chairman of the Board;
"Minister" means the Minister charged with responsibility for culture;
"Ministry" means the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism; and
"Secretary" means the secretary charged with responsibility for culture.

This Act may be cited as the National Institute for Cultural Orientation Act.