Who Can Join?

1. MEMBERSHIP AND LIABILITY

MEMBERSHIP: The membership of the Society shall be open to:

• The membership of the society shall be open to traders, farmers, businessmen and individuals who are interested in promoting the objectives of Bye Law of NIGERIAN INSTITUTION OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS (NIAE) ABUJA CHAPTER MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD
• Anyone who applies and is admitted to membership in accordance with these Bye-Laws.

2.     QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Every member of the Society must be;

• Of good character and sound mind
• Not less than 18 years of age except in the case of an heir of a deceased member, and where the Director of the Co-operatives grants exemption from the qualification.
• Any other category of person(s) approved by the general body of members as qualified to be members of society.
• Any person who does not belong to any other society that the primary objectives of which coincide- with that of this society except with the permission of the Director of Co-operatives.

3.     ADMISSION:

• Application for membership shall be made by obtaining a ‘Membership/ Entrance form, which on completion shall be submitted to the Secretariat of the Society?
• Every intending member shall submit along with the application form, a non-refundable application fee of N2,000.00 or as may be approved by the AGM from time to time and payable into the society designated account or the secretariat with two recent passport size photograph duly certified by the cooperative management.
• A member of this society shall not seek membership of another society whose primary objectives are the same.
• Declaration of Obligation: Every member, on joining the society, shall render to the Management committee, a true and complete statement of the indebtedness to other societies or organizations.

5. LIABILITY OF MEMBERS AND PAST MEMBER

• The liabilities of members for debts incurred by the society shall be determined by the liquidator appointed by the Director of the Co-operatives vide section 40 of the law.
• A past member shall be liable for the debts of the society as they existed on the date when he ceased to be a member for a period of six months from the date on which he ceased to be a member and 
•  The next of kin of a deceased member shall be liable for the debts due to the society as they existed as at the date of his demise for a period of six month after his death.

6.     NOMINEES:

Every member shall in writing nominate a person to whom his shares or interest in the society shall be transferred to in event of such member’s death or becoming permanently incapacitated. The member may, at any point in time, change his nominee. The name and address of the nominee shall be entered in the Register of members and the sign all alterations. If not admitted to membership the nominee shall, in case of death or permanent incapacitation of the member, be paid the value of the share or interest, less any sum due to the society.

7.     TERMINATION/WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP

          Membership shall be terminated by:

• Death
• Permanent insanity
• Withdrawal shall be by one Month Notice conveyed in writing to neither indebted to the society nor surety for any unpaid debt: and
• Withdrawal of membership administrative charge shall be N1,500
• Expulsion under Bye-law 4.7
• Termination of appointment by the Host organization.

8.     EXPULSION
A member may be expelled for;

• Repeated failure to make thrift saving as laid down in the bye law 8.7.
• Repeated failure to make up for debts due from him to the society over a reasonable time limit.
• Conviction on a criminal offence involving dishonesty like fraud, financial impropriety, etc and
• Misconduct or other act contrary to the stated object of the society or to the interest of the Co-operative Movement.

When member terminates owing to death, permanent insanity or expulsion, the society shall pay as in the former, to the nominee! beneficiary, or if none was nominated, to the legal representative and or in the latter, to the expelled member the sum of his credit less any sum due to the society.

9.     DUES TO MEMBERS

Any money due to any account from the society to a member or a past member shall be offset from the member’s credit or liability he has guaranteed.

10.     MEMBERSHIP REGISTER

Every member, on admission and on payment of the appropriate entrance fees shall first sign or thumbprint the membership and attendance register as an evidence of membership. By this he acquires the right of full participation in the affairs of the society and assumes all obligations relating thereto.