Section 20: Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say-
"approved" means for the time being approved under section 9 of this Act;
"approved qualification" means a qualification which is approved under section 9 of this Act;
"Board of Examiners" means the Board of Examiners established under section 12 of this Act;
"the Council" means the Veterinary Council of Nigeria established under this Act;
"the Director" has the meaning assigned thereto by section 2 (1) (b) and (c) of this Act;
"elected member of the Council" has the meaning assigned thereto by section 2 (1) of this Act;
"Federal Gazette" means the official Federal Gazette of the Federation;
"the Minister" means the Minister charged with responsibilities for matters relating to veterinary surgery;
"the Panel" has the meaning assigned thereto by section 13 of this Act;
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations;
"register" means a register maintained under this Act, and "registered" shall be construed accordingly;
"the registrar" means the Registrar appointed in pursuance of section 5 of this Act;
"regulations" means regulations made by the Minister;
"State" means a State established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999;
"the Tribunal" has the meaning assigned thereto by section 13 of this Act;
''veterinary surgery" means the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall be taken to include-
(a) the diagnosis of diseases in, and injuries to, animals, including tests performed on animals for diagnostic purposes;
(b) the giving of advice based upon such diagnosis;
(c) the medical or surgical treatment of animals; and
(d) the performance of surgical operations on animals.
(2) Anything required by this Act to be done by or to the Registrar may be done by or to any Assistant Registrar appointed by the Council.
(3) Any approval, consent, direction, notice, observation, report, representation or request authorised or required to be given or made by or under this Act shall be in writing and may, without prejudice to any other method of service but subject to the provisions of rules made under the Second Schedule to this Act, be served by post.