The Complete 2004 Laws of Nigeria

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1. Establishment of the National Institute for Sports

(I) There is hereby established a body to be known as the National Institute for
Sports (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 shall have power to acquire property and may sue and be sued in its corporate
name.

2. Governing Council of the Institute

(I) The government of the Institute and the direction of its affairs shall vest in the
National Institute for Sports' Governing Council (in this Act referred to as "the Council").

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (I) of this section and subject to
this Act, it shall be the responsibility of the Council to consider and approve--

      (a)        generally the policy aspirations enunciated in the overall sports development
                   policy with specific application to the Institute;

       (b)        short, medium and long range physical and academic plans of the Institute;

       (c)        the plan of activities and general policy of the Institute;

       (d)        the program of studies, courses and research to be undertaken by the Institute;

       (e)        the annual estimates of the income and expenditure of the Institute; and

       (f)         the investment plans of the Institute.

3. Membership of the Council

(1) The Council shall consist of the following members--

       (a)        a chairman who shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of 
the Minister;

       (b)        three persons to be appointed by the President on account of their performance,
experience in and specialised knowledge of sports matters;

       (c)        representatives of the following establishments, that is--

(i) one from the armed forces;

(ii) one each from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Customs Service,
Nigerian Prisons Service and the Nigerian Immigration Service;

(iii) one from the National Universities Commission;

(iv) one from the National Board for Technical Education;

(v) one from the National Commission for Colleges of Education;

(vi) the Director of the National Institute for Sports; and

(vii)      the Registrar of the Institute who shall serve as Secretary to the Council.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, a person appointed as a member of the
Council (not being an ex-officio member), shall hold office for a period of three years and
shall be eligible for re-appointment for only one further period of three years.

(3) The President may terminate the appointment of a member of the Council if he is 
satisfied that it is no longer in the interest of the Institute that the person concerned
should continue in office.

(4) The supplementary provisions contained in the Schedule to this Act shall have
effect with respect to the proceedings of the Council and the other matters therein mentioned.

[Schedule.]

4. Powers of the Council

(1) For the purpose of carrying out the functions of the Institute as specified in this 
Act, the Council shall have power to--

       (a)       determine the general policy of the Institute;

       (b)       prescribe the fees to be charged for courses of institution and other services 
offered by the Institute;

      (c)        prescribe, monitor and regulate the organisation and management of the Institute;

       (d)       establish such departments, divisions, schools, extramural departments and
other teaching and research units within the Institute as may, from time to 
time, seem to the Council to be necessary or desirable;

      (e)        institute lectureship and other posts and offices and to make appointments 
thereto;

      (f)        provide for the discipline of members of the Institute;

      (g)       institute and award scholarships, exhibitions, awards and other forms of assistance;

      (h)       arrange for the general welfare of members of the staff;

       (i)         erect, provide, equip and maintain libraries, laboratories, lecture halls, halls of 
residence, refectories, sports grounds, playing fields and other buildings or
structures necessary for the Institute; and

      (j)         carry out such other activities as are necessary and expedient for the full dis-
charge of any of its functions under or pursuant to this Act.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, the Council shall not establish
additional educational units within the Institute without the prior approval of the Minister.

5. Objectives and functions of the Council 
   The objectives of the Institute shall be to--

          (a)              pursue the advancement of learning in specialised areas of sports development, 
   including management;

          (b)              conduct specialised professional coaching courses and research at various levels for sports;

          (c)              run courses for top level policy makers and executors in the realm of sports
   administration with a view to broadening their conceptual and executive capacity and perspectives;

          (d)              conduct seminars, workshops and other intensive programmes, on a continual 
   or ad hoc basis for sports administrators and coaches;

          (e)              provide adequate technical facilities for the advancement of knowledge and 
   skill in sports;

          (f)               disseminate by way of learned publications the academic activities of the Institute;

          (g)              engage in extra-curricular activities towards the full development of the mind
   and body of sportsmen;

          (h)              award certificates of attendance to those who participate in and attain a sufficiently
   satisfactory standard in any of the courses organised by the Institute;

          (i)               organise courses of instruction and provide necessary facilities and other qualifications
   of such other professions allied to sports as the Council may determine;

         (j)         promote or undertake such other activities (not inconsistent with the foregoing 
   provisions of this section) as the Council considers will help to further the objectives of the Institute.

6. Provision of library facilities

The Institute shall establish and maintain a library comprising such books, records,
reports and other publications as may be directed by the Council for the advancement of
knowledge in the areas of work undertaken by it, for research purposes and for other
purposes connected with the functions conferred on the Institute by or pursuant to this Act.

Staff of the Institute

7. Director of the Institute

(1) There shall be an officer of the Institute to be known as the Director.

(2) The Director shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the
Minister.

(3) The Director shall be the chief executive of the Institute and be responsible to the
Council for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the Institute.

(4) The Director shall hold office on such terms and conditions as may be specified 
in his letter of appointment and on such other conditions as may be determined from time
to time by the Council with the concurrence of the President.

8. Appointment of other staff of the Institute

(1) There shall be appointed by the Council the following officers of the Institute,
that is-

       (a)        the deputy director;

       (b)        the registrar;

      (c)        the heads of the various academic units;

       (d)       the bursar; and

      (e)        the librarian.

(2) The deputy director shall be the deputy chief executive of the Institute and shall 
be responsible to the director.

(3) The heads of the various academic units shall be responsible to the director for 
planning, organising, coordinating and conducting the courses and other studies under-
taken by the respective units of the Institute including collation and publication of course 
materials and other written materials relating thereto.

(4) The registrar shall be responsible to the director for the day-to-day administration
of the Institute and in addition shall keep in safe custody all records of the Institute.

(5) The bursar shall be responsible to the director for the finances and accounts of the 
Institute.

(6) The librarian shall be responsible to the director for the administration of the Institute's library.

(7) There may be appointed, from time to time, by the Council such other staff as 
may be required for the purpose of the efficient performance of the functions conferred 
on the Institute under this Act.

9. Pensions

(1) It is hereby declared that service in the Institute shall be public service for the 
purposes of the Pensions 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 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.

10. Establishment and membership of the Academic Board

(1) There is hereby established for the Institute, an Academic Board consisting of-

       (a)       the director of the Institute as chairman;

       (b)       the heads of units in charge of academic studies, research and library services;

       (c)       one representative of the senior staff of the Institute; and

       (d)       the registrar of the Institute, who shall serve as secretary to the Academic 
Board.

(2) The Academic Board shall be responsible for-

      (a)      the direction and management of all academic matters of the Institute including 
prescribing appropriate admission requirements for the programmes of the
Institute in line with the minimum standards that may be set by an accrediting 
authority, recommending to the Council the types of academic distinctions, 
prizes, scholarships, certificates and diplomas to be awarded;

       (b)        conducting prescribed examinations and assessments thereof;

       (c)        issuing codes of conduct in halls of residence; and

       (d)        discharging any other functions as may be delegated to it by the Council.

Financial provisions

11. Establishment of the fund of the Institute

(I) The Institute shall establish and maintain a fund which shall be applied towards
the promotion of the objectives specified in this Act.

(2) There shall be paid and credited to the fund established pursuant to subsection (I)
of this sectiolt-
       (a)        such sums as may be provided by the Government of the Federation for payment into the fund;

       (b)        any fees charged for services rendered by the Institute; and

       (c)        proceeds from sales of materials such as journals, workshops or seminar proceedings and
research exhibits insofar as patent rights are vested in the Institute.

12. Power to accept gifts

(I) The Institute 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 Institute 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.

13. Borrowing power, etc.

(I) The Council may, with the consent or in accordance with any general direction 
given by the President, borrow by way of loan or overdraft from a source approved by the
President, such specified amount of money as may be required by the Institute for meeting
its obligations and discharging its functions under this Act.

(2) The Council 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 as are mentioned in subsection (I) of this section.

(3) The Council may invest any surplus funds of the Institute in securities prescribed 
by the Trustee Investments Act or such other securities as may, from time to time, be
approved by the Minister.

[Cap. T22.]

(4) Subject to the provisions of the Land Use Act, and any special or general direction
which the Minister may give in that behalf, the Council may acquire or lease any 
land required for its purposes under this Act.

[Cap. L5.]

14. Annual estimates, accounts and audit

(1) The Council shall cause to be prepared, not later than six months before the end 
of each year or such other time as the Minister may direct, an estimate of the expenditure 
and income of the Institute during the next succeeding year, and when prepared they shall 
be submitted through the Minister for approval by the President.

(2) The Council shall cause to be kept proper accounts and proper records in relation 
thereto and when certified by the Council 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 issued by the Auditor-General for the Federation and the fees of the auditors 
and the expenses for the audit generally shall be paid from the funds of the Institute.

Miscellaneous and supplementary provisions

15. Annual reports

The Council shall, not later than six months after the end of each year submit, through 
the Minister, 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 and the auditor's comments thereon.

16. Staff regulations

(1) The Institute 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 officers in the civil service of the Federation shall be applicable with such modifications
as may be necessary, to the employees of the Institute.

(2) Staff regulations made under subsection (1) of this section shall not have effect 
until approved by the Minister 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.

17. Discipline of students

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where it appears to the Director that any
student of the Institute has been found guilty of misconduct, the Director may, without 
prejudice to any other disciplinary powers conferred on him by rules, direct- 

       (a)              that the student shall not, during such period as may be specified in the direction,
participate in such activities of the Institute as may be so specified; or

       (b)              that the activities of the student shall, during such period as may be specified
in the direction, be restricted in such manner as may be so specified; or

      (c)        that the student be rusticated for such period as may be specified in the direction; or

     (d)        that the student be expelled from the Institute.

(2) Where a direction is given under subsection (I) of this section in respect of any 
student, the student may, within the prescribed period and in the prescribed manner,
appeal from the direction to the Council, and where such an appeal is brought, the Council 
shall, after causing such inquiry to be made in the matter as the Council considers just,
either confirm or set aside the direction or modify it in such manner as the Council thinks
fit.

(3) The fact that an appeal from a direction is brought in pursuance of the foregoing
subsection shall not affect the operation of the direction while the appeal is pending.

18. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires--

"Council" means the National Institute for Sports Governing Council constituted under section 2 of this Act;

"chairman" means the chairman of the Council;

"director" means the director of the Institute;

"member" includes the chairman of the Council.

19. Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Institute for Sports Act.

SCHEDULE
[Section 3 (4).]

Supplementary provisions relating to the Council

Proceedings of the Council

1. (I) Subject to this Act and to section 27 of the Interpretation Act (which provides for the 
decisions of a statutory body to be taken by a majority of the members of the body and for the
person presiding to have a second or casting vote), the Council may make standing orders
regulating its proceedings or of any committee thereof.

[Cap. 123.]

(2) The quorum at any meeting of the Council shall be seven and the quorum of any 
committee of the Council shall be determined by the Council.

2. (1) The Council shall meet not less than four times in each year and subject thereto, the
Council shall meet whenever it is summoned by the chairman; and if the chairman is required 
to do so by notice given to him by not less than five other members, he shall summon a meeting
of the Council to be held within fourteen days from the date on which the notice is given.

(2) At any meeting of the Council the chairman shall preside but if he is absent, the 
members present at the meeting shall appoint one of their number to preside at that meeting.

(3) Where the Council desires to obtain the advice of any person on a particular matter, 
the Council may co-opt him as a member for such period as it thinks fit but a person who is a 
member by virtue of this sub-paragraph shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the
Council and shall not count towards the quorum.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the first 
meeting of the Council shall be summoned by the Minister.

(5) The validity of any proceedings of the Councilor of a committee thereof shall not be 
affected by any vacancy in the membership of the Councilor committee, or by any defect in 
the appointment of a member of the Councilor committee, or by reason that a person not
entitled to do so took part in the proceedings.

Committees

3. (l) The Council may appoint one or more committees to carry out, on behalf of the Council,
such of its functions as the Council may determine.

(2) A committee appointed under this paragraph shall consist of such number of persons
(not necessarily all members of the Council) as may be determined by the Council and a
person other than a member of the Council shall hold office on the committee in accordance with
the terms of his appointment.

(3) A decision of a committee of the Council shall be of no effect until it is confirmed 
by the Council.

Miscellaneous

4. (1) The fixing of the seal of the Institute shall be authenticated by the signature of the
chairman or of some other member authorised generally or specially to act for that purpose by
the Council.

(2) Any contract or instrument which, if made or executed by a person not being a body
corporate, would not be required to be under seal, may be made or executed on behalf of the 
Institute by the director or any person generally or specially authorised to act for that purpose 
by the Council.

(3) Any document purporting to be a document duly executed under the seal of the Institute shall
be received in evidence and shall, unless the contrary is proved, be presumed to be
so executed.

(4) Members of the Council who are not public officers shall be paid out of moneys at 
the disposal of the Council such remuneration, fees or allowances in accordance with such
scales as may be approved from time to time by the President.

(5) Any member of the Councilor a committee thereof who has a personal interest in
any contract or arrangement entered into or proposed to be considered by the Councilor a
committee thereof shall forthwith disclose his interest to the Council and shall not vote on any
question relating to such contract or arrangement.