Urhobo Progress Union Europe
The Bye-laws of Urhobo Progress Union Europe Leaders Forum, as adopted 2024. Motto: Unity is Strength. Slogan: Urhobo Ọvuọvo.
This document is cited as “The Bye-laws of Urhobo Progress Union Europe Leaders Forum.” They are the fundamental rules of the Forum. The signed original remains the governing text; what follows is the full substance of those Bye-laws for reading on this website.
These Bye-laws shall remain in force and shall not be repealed en bloc, but shall be amended in accordance with the guidelines set out herein. They shall have the force of a valid constitution upon which all subsequent rules, guidelines or amendments shall be vested. They shall be the fundamental rule and condition of rule-making according to which all future norms, rules or regulations shall be validated. The provisions of these Bye-laws, or any Article or Section thereof, shall come into effect on such date as may be determined by a simple majority of members of the Union present in a duly constituted general meeting.
1.1 General provision. This ethnic cultural organisation shall be called and known as the Urhobo Progress Union Europe Leaders Forum (U.P.U.E.L).
1.2 Seal, emblem, crest and colours. The seal, emblem, crest and colours of UPU Europe Leaders shall be the same as those of the UPU National Headquarters.
2.1 Motto. The motto of the Urhobo Progress Union Europe Leaders Forum (the “Union”) is “Unity is Strength.” The slogan is “Urhobo Ọvuọvo.”
2.2 Aims and objectives. The aims and objectives of the Union are:
3.1 Registration and membership. This body shall be registered as an NGO in a country to be discussed and agreed by all. Membership shall consist of five (5) members from each UPU branch in Europe:
3.2 Automatic membership. A newly elected President, Vice or Deputy President, and Secretary of each UPU branch in Europe is automatically a member of UPU Europe Leaders, without recourse to the existing composition of that branch’s representatives in the Forum.
3.3 Pioneer membership. All current active members are automatically members of the Forum, regardless of member-state composition.
3.4 Subscription, bank account and signatories.
The principal organs of the Union shall be the Board of Trustees (BoT), the National Executive Committee (NEC), and the General Assembly.
4.1 Board of Trustees — composition. The Board of Trustees shall consist of some outgoing executives at the end of their tenure. An executive who wants to be re-elected to an executive position shall not be a member of the BoT. The Chairman and members of the BoT shall be elected at a well-constituted general meeting with a two-thirds majority of members present. Trustees shall not be fewer than three (3) and not more than eleven (11).
4.2 Tenure of trustees. A trustee may hold office for 10 years, but shall cease to hold office if he or she resigns; ceases to be a member of the Forum; becomes insane; is officially declared bankrupt; is convicted of a major criminal offence; or is recommended for removal by two-thirds of a meeting of the Board of Trustees and approved by the general house. A trustee cannot be a member of the Executive Council.
4.3 Powers and functions of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is the highest organ of the Union and shall approve policies and any such document as approved by the general house. The BoT shall remain in office subject to good conduct. It is vested with power to deliberate in the house on issues concerning the removal of officers before the end of tenure. The BoT shall also act as the Conflict Resolution Committee and resolve issues within members and non-members.
The Executive Officers constitute the Executive Council of Urhobo Progress Union Europe Leaders Forum (UPUEL). The Executive Council is the sole organ responsible for the implementation of the policies and affairs of the Union.
5.1 Executive officers shall comprise:
Standing and ad-hoc committees shall be set up for the smooth and effective running of the Union’s activities. Their main purpose is to raise funds, educate, organise socio-cultural activities and resolve disputes. The chairman of each committee shall be the Union’s elected officer for the related duty. Members of the various committees shall be appointed by the President in a general meeting.
6.1 Standing committees (functions determined by the Executive Committee): Welfare; Social Event; Project and Empowerment; Conflict Resolution.
6.2 Ad-hoc committee. An ad-hoc committee shall be set up for a particular purpose and dissolved immediately after its function has been discharged.
7.1 Regional President. The Regional President shall preside at all meetings, including the Executive Committee, and conduct meetings in an orderly manner. The President and the Executive shall run the day-to-day activities of the Union. He or she shall sign all minutes of meetings and summon general and Executive meetings through the Secretary when deemed necessary, or at the request of a reasonable number of financial branches or the BoT. He or she shall be a signatory to the Union’s bank account, together with the Secretary or the Treasurer or the Financial Secretary, and shall sign all orders and vouchers of the Union. Together with the Secretary or Treasurer or Financial Secretary, he or she shall sign all withdrawals of funds deposited in a stated bank.
7.2 Regional Deputy President. Shall assist the President in conducting the business of the Union and deputise in his or her absence.
7.3 Regional Secretary. Shall keep all books, documents and other materials pertaining to the office in a satisfactory manner; maintain a list of all members with email addresses and phone numbers in accordance with GDPR; perform all duties under these Bye-laws; conduct the correspondence of the region and the regional Executive Committee and take minutes of such meetings; and be a signatory to the Union’s bank account and, together with the President, sign all orders and vouchers of the Union.
7.4 Regional Assistant Secretary. Shall assist the Secretary generally in regular duties and deputise in his or her absence.
7.5 Regional Treasurer. Shall receive all monies for the Union and keep an accurate account in a permanent record; issue a receipt for any money from the Financial Secretary; within 72 hours of receiving money, deposit it into the bank account approved by the Union. All funds shall pass through the Financial Secretary to the Treasurer and be signed. The Treasurer shall update the house with the financial status at a general meeting; be a signatory to the Union’s account; and make available all financial documents for audit whenever requested by the auditors.
7.6 Regional Financial Secretary. Shall collect all fees, levies, donations, contributions, or any money whose collection is authorised by the Union, pay such funds promptly to the Treasurer and obtain a receipt; keep a proper and permanent account of all funds; at the end of the year, in conjunction with the Treasurer, submit an account of all monies received and all arrears outstanding in an annual report to the Annual General Meeting; and be a signatory to the Union’s account.
7.7 Regional P.R.O. / Social Media Officer. Is the image-maker of the Union and shall carry out duties assigned by the President or the Executive Committee; speak on behalf of the Union; be responsible for all social media platforms of the Union and ensure that all content conforms to legal standards and practices, consulting the Legal Officer if in doubt.
7.8 Regional Event / Social Organising Officer. Shall work with the P.R.O. / Social Media Officer or any committee set up by the Executive Committee to organise social events of the Union, especially the UPU Europe Region Convention.
7.9 Regional Legal Officer. A legal background is a considerable advantage. Shall be responsible for all legal and Bye-laws matters of the Union; ensure at all times that all activities of the Union conform to legal standards and practices; and advise the Union on legal issues from time to time.
7.10 Regional Welfare Coordinator. Shall establish effective communication between members and manage related welfare needs of the Union; be the head of the Welfare Committee; resolve disputes arising between members; refer unresolved disputes to the BoT via the Executive Committee; and advise the Union on developmental welfare programmes.
7.11 Regional Provost. Shall maintain decorum and enforce order during meetings and social functions or gatherings of member states.
On the death of a member, the family (children) shall be entitled to the sum of two thousand euro (€2,000.00). Members shall contribute that amount. No official invitation is needed. All members shall attend the funeral of a deceased member unless incapacitated. The deceased must have been a committed and active member for at least twelve months consistently.
Any member whose behaviour, conduct or action is proved or considered likely to bring discredit or disrepute to the Union, or appears against the general interest of the Union, or appears subversive to the welfare, unity and solidarity of the Union, shall upon successful trial after an indictment be guilty of an offence and shall be disciplined, according to gravity, by:
A member who is dissatisfied with the disciplinary action may appeal to the BoT.
If, owing to unsatisfactory behaviour, conduct or action of an officer, a group of members or officers, or an Executive Committee, a vote of no confidence is carried, the person or persons shall at once vacate office if they are office-holders. Those involved and impeached shall not participate in voting. An erring member must resign if two-thirds of the members present at a meeting vote against them. An out-voted member or officer shall, within three (3) days of such voting, hand over all Union property in his or her possession to the President or Secretary if both of them are not involved. If they are, the handing-over shall be made to any three financial members who shall jointly sign a receipt of having taken over the property.
13.1 Alteration of the Bye-laws. Proposals for amendments to the Union’s Bye-laws or for dissolution must be delivered to the Secretary in writing. The Secretary, in conjunction with all other officers, shall then decide on the date of a forum meeting to discuss such proposals, giving at least four weeks (28 days) clear notice. Any changes to the Bye-laws shall be agreed by at least two-thirds of members present and voting at a General Meeting.
13.2 Rules of posting on the UPU Europe Leaders Forum WhatsApp platform. The platform is a strictly inclusive Urhobo platform. For effective management, the following rules apply:
© Urhobo Progress Union Europe Leaders Forum. Bye-laws as adopted 2024.
