Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria Act, 2022

(d) shall comprise of all personnel in the fields of – (i) electric power engineering, electronic engineering, clean energy engineering, telecommunications engineering, systems engineering, computer engineering, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, broadcasting, instrumentation, optics and photonics, hardware engineering, power electronics, electromagnetics and waves, microwave engineering, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, mechatronics, biomedical engineering, electrical materials science, robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, control and automation, avionics, quantum engineering, embedded or emerging technologies which cover internet of things, big data, block chain technology, electrical manufacturing industry, electrical maintenance, construction and contracting industries, (ii) application of electricity and electronics to medical science, aeronautics, maritime, automobiles, (iii) study, teaching, research and development pertaining to any field of engineering or applied sciences of electricity and electronics; and (iv) any such new specialties being considered.

(3) The Institute shall be charged with the duty of –

(a) determine the standards of knowledge and skills required of a person seeking to practice or become member of the electrical and electronic engineering profession (in this Act referred to as the “the profession”) and raising those standards as circumstances may permit;

(b) provide for the registration, certification and standardisation, where required, of members of the profession;

(d) register, certify and standardise corporate bodies;

(e) secure in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the establishment and maintenance of the register of eligible members of the profession and publish lists of those persons;

(f) conduct examinations leading to the award of professional competency certificates as may be prescribed by the Institute, in conformity with international standards;

(g) ensure synergy between the industry and academia in the field of electrical and electronic engineering; and

(h) perform, through the Council, such other functions conferred on it by this Act and raise those standards as circumstances may permit.

Membership of the Institute

(1) A chartered electrical and electronic engineering personnel or firm practicing under this Act is eligible to be registered by the Institute in the categories of –

(a) Engineer;

(b) Technologist;

(d) Craftsman; or

(e) Corporate Firms.

(2) The privileges and entitlement of member of the Institute are –

(a) affixing of a suffix after their names in the category of – (i) Engineer, “CEE”, (ii) Technologist, “CET”, (iii) Technician, “CEt”, (iv) Craftsman, “CEC”, and (v) Corporate Firms, “CEF”; and

(b) the right to affix a member seal and stamp on every document endorsed by or emanating from them and the seal shall bear the member’s name, membership number and area of specialisation.

(3) The provisions of the First Schedule to this Act shall, so far as applicable to the question of admission to the Institute, have effect concerning the categories of members listed in subsection (1). [First Schedule]

The President and Vice-President of the Institute

(1) There shall be a President and a Vice President of the Council, who shall –

(a) be fellows of the professions;

(b) be elected by members of the Council by a simple majority; and

(2) The President shall be the Chairman at meetings of the Council, and in the event of death, incapacity or inability, for any reason, of the President, the Vice-President shall act in his stead for the unexpired portion of the term of office.

(3) The President and Vice-President shall respectively be the Chairman and Vice- Chairman of the Council.

(4) The President or the Vice-President shall cease to hold any of the offices designated under this Act, if he ceases to be a member of the Institute.

Establishment of the Governing Council

(1) There is established for the Institute a Governing Council (in this Act referred to as “the Council”) charged with the responsibility for providing the guiding policy, administration, and setting the standards of the Institute.

(2) The Council shall consist of –

(a) President;

(b) Vice President;

(d) one representative each of the Certification and Standardisation Board of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) listed as – (i) Electronic and Computing Engineering Certification and Standardisation Board, (ii) Power and Clean Energy Engineering Certification and Standardisation Board, (iii) Information and Communications Technology Engineering Certification and Standardisation Board, (iv) Instrumentation or Automation and Control Engineering Certification and Standardisation Board, (v) Avionic and Space Engineering Certification and Standardisation Board, and (vi) Embedded or Emerging Technologies (which includes Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Machine Learning and Drones) Certification and Standardisation Board;

(e) one representative each of the profession recognised by the Council for the regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) of the categories of – (i) engineer, (ii) technologist, (iii) technician, and (iv) craftsman;

(f) three representatives of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE); and

(g) one representative each of the – (i) Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, (ii) National Universities Commission (NUC), (iii) Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), (iv) Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), (v) Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), (vi) National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), (vii) National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), (viii) Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), (ix) National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and (x) Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).

(3) The provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the qualifications and tenure of office of members of the Council and the other matters mentioned in it. [Second Schedule]

Powers of the Council

The Council shall have powers to –

(a) exercise the responsibilities for the policy formulation and direct organs of the Institute for the execution and general administration;

(b) create a conducive atmosphere to enable it to be consulted by industry stakeholders as it relates to electrical and electronic engineering practice and training;

(d) make rules and regulations for the proper functioning of the Institute;

(e) appoint, promote, discipline and pay the staff of the Institute appropriate remuneration commensurate in scale with that of staff in similar organisations;

(f) enter into any negotiation, agreement and contractual relationship as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the Institute;

(g) sit every quarter to consider issues brought before it; and (h) perform such functions as are conferred on it under this Act.

Tenure and cessation of office

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, members of the Council shall each hold office for a term of two years and may be re-appointed for a further term of two years and no more.

(2) A person shall cease to hold office as a member of the Council if he –

(a) dies;

(b) becomes bankrupt;

(d) becomes of unsound mind or is incapable of carrying out his duties;

(e) is guilty of serious misconduct concerning his duties;

(f) in the case of a person with professional qualification, is disqualified or suspended, other than at his request, from practicing his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority; or

(g) resigns his appointment by a written notice under his hand to the Chairman of the Council.

Fund of the Institute

(1) The Institute shall be self-funding save for grants, donations and gifts in support of its statutory activities.

(2) The Council shall establish and maintain a fund which shall be managed and controlled by the Council.

(3) There shall be paid into the Fund –

(a) all subventions, fees, fines, penalties and charges for services rendered or publications made by the Council;

(b) gifts, endowments, bequests, loans, donations, grants or aids;

(c) foreign aids and assistance from bilateral and multilateral agencies such as affiliated bodies on electrical engineering, donations, charges and money payable to the Institute under this Act; and

(d) such other money as may be received by the Institute in the course of its operations or performance of any of its functions under this Act.

(4) There shall be paid out of the Fund –

(a) remuneration and allowances of the members of the Council and employees of the Institute;

(b) such reasonable travelling and subsistence allowances of members of the Council in respect of the time spent on the duties of the Council as the Council may determine; and

(5) The Council may invest money from the Fund in any security issued by the Federal Government or in any other security in Nigeria approved by the Council.

(6) The Council may borrow money for the Institute, and any interest payable on money borrowed shall be paid out of the Fund.

(7) All the members shall be caused to pay into the Fund, annual dues and levies as may be agreed by the Council.

Accounts and audit

(1) The Council shall, on behalf of the Institute, keep proper books of accounts in respect of each year and proper records concerning these accounts.

(2) The Council shall cause its accounts to be audited by an external auditor and when audited, the accounts shall be submitted annually to the members of the Institute for approval at the General assembly, and the annual audited account shall be deemed to have fulfilled the requirement of the financial reporting standard.

(3) An audit of the books of the Institute shall be in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Appointment, qualification and tenure of the Registrar

(1) The Council shall appoint –

(a) the Registrar who shall be a – (i) fit and proper person and member of the Institute, and (ii) graduate of electrical and electronic engineering with at least 20 years experience; and

(b) such other persons as the Council may deem necessary to assist the Registrar in the performance of his functions under this Act.

(2) The Registrar shall be –

(a) appointed for a term of three years in the first instance and may be re- appointed for another term of three years and no more; and

(b) paid such remuneration as may be specified in his letter of appointment or as determined by the Council using a scale commensurate with that of similar organisations.

(3) The Registrar shall cease to hold office if he –

(a) dies;

(b) becomes bankrupt;

(d) becomes of unsound mind or is incapable of carrying out his duties;

(e) is guilty of serious misconduct concerning his duties; or

(4) The Registrar may resign his appointment by a written notice under his hand, delivered to the Chairman of Council.

(5) The Registrar shall –

(a) in addition to other functions under this Act – (i) be the Secretary to the Council, (ii) be the chief executive and accounting officer of the Institute, (iii) be responsible for the administration of the Institute, (iv) keep minutes of proceedings of all meetings of the Council, and (v) be responsible to the Council for the execution of policies and directives of the Institute;

(b) prepare and maintain, in accordance with rules made by the Council, register of the names, addresses, approved qualifications, and such other particulars of all persons entitled in accordance with the provisions of this Act to be registered as members of the Institute;

(c) correct, in accordance with the direction of the Council, any entry in the register, which the Council directs him to correct as being in the opinion of the Council, an entry which was incorrectly made;

(d) make any necessary alterations to the registered particulars of registered persons; and

(e) record the names of members of the Institute who are in debt for more than one year in the payment of annual or practicing fees and take such action including removal of the names of defaulters from the register, as the Council may direct or require.

(6) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Council shall make rules with respect to the form and keeping of the register, the making of entries in it, and in particular –

(a) regulating the making of applications for enrolment or registration, and the evidence to be produced in support of the applications;

(b) providing for the notification to the Registrar, by the person to whom any registered particulars relate, of any change in them;

(c) authorising a registered person to have any qualification which, in relation to the profession, is either an approved qualification or an accepted qualification for the purpose of this Act, registered in relation to his name in addition to or, as he may elect, in substitution for any other qualifications so registered;

(d) specifying the fees, including any annual subscription, to be paid to the Institute in respect of the entry of names on the register, and authorising the Registrar to refuse to enter a name on the register until any fee specified for entry has been paid; and

(e) specifying anything not specified under this section, but rules made for paragraph (d) shall not come into effect until they are confirmed at a special meeting of the Institute convened for that purpose, or at the next annual general meeting.

Approval of qualifications

10.

(1) The Council may approve any qualification under this Act and may, for that purpose, approve any –

(a) course of training in any institution approved by NUC, COREN, or NBTE which is intended for persons seeking to become members of the profession as the Council considers necessary to confer on persons completing it, sufficient knowledge and skill for registration with the Institute; and

(b) qualification which as a result of an examination taken in conjunction with a course of training approved by the Council under this section is granted to candidates having reached a standard at the examination which, in the opinion of the Council. the candidate has sufficient knowledge and skill to be registered with the Institute.

(2) The Council may, if it deems fit, withdraw any approval given under this section in respect of any course or qualification of the Institute, but before withdrawing such approval, the Council shall –

(a) give notice that it proposes to do so, to each person in Nigeria appearing to the Council to be a person by whom the course is conducted or the qualification is granted or the institution is controlled;

(b) afford such a person an opportunity of making to the Council representations concerning the proposal; and

(3) A course, qualification or institution shall not be recognised as approved during any period when the approval is withdrawn under subsection (2).

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), the withdrawal of an approval under subsection (2) shall not prejudice the registration or eligibility for registration of any person who, under the approval, was registered or eligible for registration, either unconditionally or subject to obtaining a certificate or to obtaining a certificate or experience, immediately before the approval was withdrawn.

(5) The granting or withdrawal of an approval under this section shall have effect from that date whether before or after the execution of the instrument signifying the giving or withdrawal of the approval, as the Council may specify in the instrument and the Council shall –

(a) immediately publish a copy of every such instrument; and

(b) not later than seven days before its publication, send a copy of the instrument to the institution affected.

Conduct of competency examination leading to certification as electrical and electronic engineering personnel

11.

(1) The Council shall conduct –

(a) competency examination in the nature of electrical and electronic engineering; and

(b) training of persons who have graduated or completed their course of study in electrical and electronic engineering and persons who possess at least three years post qualification practice experience of three years in any of its categories.

(2) The examination under subsection (1) shall be conducted periodically to certify members’ competency and enable career progression.

(3) The Council shall constitute an examination board and formulate policies and guidelines to certify persons and corporate bodies as may be required and in particular the –

(a) Engineer Category shall have five levels of competency, each with its grade – levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall be known as Grades 5, 4, 3, 2 and I respectively with Grade 1 as the highest level in certification; and

(b) Technologist Category shall have four levels of competency, each with its Grade – levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 shall be known as Grades 4, 3, 2 and I respectively with Grade 1 as the highest level of certification; and

(c) Technician and Craftsman Categories shall have six levels of competency, each with its Grade – levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall be known as Grades 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and I respectively with Grade 1 as the highest level of certification.

(4) The Grades attainable through competency examination and years of practice are –

(a) Engineer – (i) Chartered Electrical and Electronic Engineer – is attainable with three years post qualification experience, certification examination from the Council and the person shall choose a field of specialty or as would be prescribed by the Council, (ii) Chartered Electrical and Electronic Engineering Consultant – attainable after three years of the first certification, (iii) Chartered Senior Engineering Consultant – is attainable after three years of the second certification, (iv) Chartered Principal Electrical and Electronic Engineering Consultant – is attainable after five years of the third certification, and (v) Chartered Chief Engineering Consultant – is attainable after five years of the fourth certification;

(b) Technologist – (i) Chartered Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist – is attainable after three years post qualification experience with certification examination from the Council and the person shall choose a field of specialty or as would be prescribed by the Council, (ii) Chartered Senior Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist – is attainable after three years of the first certification, (iii) Chartered Principal Electrical and Electronic Technologist – is attainable after five years of the second certification, and (iv) Chartered Chief Engineering Technologist – is attainable after five years of the third certification;

(c) Technician or Craftsman – (i) Chartered Electrical and Electronic Engineering Craftsman – is attainable after certification examination from the Council and the person shall choose a field of specialty or as would be prescribed by the Council, (ii) Chartered Senior Electrical and Electronic Engineering Craftsman – is attainable after three years of the first certification and is the entry level for technician, (iii) Chartered Chief Electrical and Electronic Engineering Craftsman – is attainable after three years of the second certification and is the second level for the technician. (iv) Chartered Computer Aided Design Electrical and Electronic Technician – is attainable after three years of the third certification and is the third level for the technician, (v) Chartered Computer Aided Design Electrical and Electronic Technician or Engineering Technician – is attainable after five years of the fourth certification and is the fourth level for technician, (vi) Chartered Senior Computer Aid Design Electrical and Electronic Technician – is attainable after five years of the fifth certification and is the fifth level for the technician, and (vii) Chartered Chief Computer Aid Design Electrical and Electronic Technician – is attainable after five years of the sixth certification and is the sixth level for the technician.

(5) Any member with proven and exceptional field experience above level 3 for engineer category, level 2 for technologist category, level 3 for technician category and level 2 for craftsman category may apply to the Council for consideration to sit for the next level examination.

(6) This privilege is only offered to a member once in his lifetime.

(7) Only a firm in which a director or directors are certified in a particular field prescribed by the Council, shall be registered in the Institute.

(8) A firm whose board of directors are certified in different fields shall be registered in such fields.

(9) A firm shall not be registered unless the firm submits to the Council the required Corporate Affairs Commission documents to ascertain the certification of directors.

(10) A member shall notify the Council of the withdrawal of his membership as director of the board of any firm so that appropriate certification is effected.

Standardisation of practice

12.

(1) The Institute shall adopt and promote national and global standards as applicable in the profession.

(2) The standards under subsection (1) shall include –

(a) Nigerian Industrial Standard – International Electrotechnical Commission (NIS-IEC);

(b) International Telecommunication Union (ITU);

(d) International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO);

(e) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); and

(f) Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)-Regulation, and National Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA)-Guidelines.

(3) The Institute shall promote the development and adoption of these standards by ensuring collaboration with relevant agencies such as the Standards Organisation of The Institute shall promote the development and adoption of these standards by ensuring collaboration with relevant agencies such as the Standards Organisation of The Institute shall promote the development and adoption of these standards by ensuring collaboration with relevant agencies such as the Standards Organisation of The Institute shall promote the development and adoption of these standards by ensuring collaboration with relevant agencies such as the Standards Organisation of The Institute shall promote the development and adoption of these standards by ensuring collaboration with relevant agencies such as the Standards Organisation of The Institute shall promote the development and adoption of these standards by ensuring collaboration with relevant agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Establishment of Investigating Panel and Disciplinary Tribunal

13.

(1) There is established the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria Investigating Panel (in this Act referred to as “Investigating Panel”) charged with the duty of –

(a) conducting preliminary investigation into any case where it is alleged that a member of the Institute has violated the provisions of the Institute’s code of conduct or is for any other reason the subject of any proceeding before the Disciplinary Tribunal; and

(b) deciding whether the case should be referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal or not.

(2) The Investigating Panel shall be appointed by Council as the need arises and shall consist of five members who are experts in the subject matter.

(3) The tenure of the Investigating Panel shall be as specified by the Council.

(4) The Council may make rules limited to the provisions of this Act as regards acts that constitute professional misconduct.

(5) The Investigating Panel shall –

(a) be independent in investigating allegations under subsection (1) (a); and

(b) have the power to receive complaints directly from any individual or organisation.

(6) There is established the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria Disciplinary Tribunal (in this Act referred to as “the Disciplinary Tribunal”) charged with the duty of considering and determining any case referred to it by the Investigating Panel

(7) The Disciplinary Tribunal shall –

(a) be appointed by the Council, and

(b) consist of a Vice-President who shall be the Chairman, three other members of the Council and three members of the Institute who are not members of the Council.

(8) The provisions of the Third Schedule to this Act shall have affect with respect to the Investigating Panel and Disciplinary Tribunal respectively. [Third Schedule]

Penalties for unprofessional conduct

14.

(1) Where –

(a) a person is adjudged by the Disciplinary Tribunal to be guilty of unprofessional conduct in any professional respect,

(b) a person is convicted by any court or tribunal in Nigeria or elsewhere having the power to award imprisonment for an offence, whether or not punishable with imprisonment, which, in the opinion of the Disciplinary Tribunal is incompatible with the conduct required of a member of the profession, or

(c) the Disciplinary Tribunal is satisfied that the name of the person has been fraudulently registered after the person has been allowed to defend himself before the Disciplinary Tribunal, the Disciplinary Tribunal shall, after receiving the confirmation of its decision from the Council, convey a direction reprimanding the person or ordering the registrar to strike his name off the relevant part of the register.

(2) The Disciplinary Tribunal may, if deems fit, defer or further defer its decision as to the giving of a direction under subsection (1) until a subsequent meeting of the Disciplinary Tribunal, but no –

(a) decision shall be deferred under this subsection for periods exceeding three months from the conclusion of proceedings in the case; and

(b) person shall be a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal for the purpose of reaching a decision that has been deferred or further deferred unless he was present as a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal when the decision was deferred.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1) (b), a person shall not be treated as a convict unless the conviction stands at a time where no appeal or further appeal is pending or may, without extension of time, be brought in connection with the direction.

(4) Where the Disciplinary Tribunal gives a direction under subsection (l), the Disciplinary Tribunal shall cause notice of the direction to be served on the person to whom it relates.

(5) The person to whom a direction relates may, at any time within 28 days from the date of service on him of the notice of the direction, appeal against the direction to the Federal High Court and the Disciplinary Tribunal shall appear as the respondent to the appeal and, for the purpose of enabling directive to be given as to the costs of the appeal and proceeding before the Federal High Court, the Disciplinary Tribunal shall be deemed to be a party to the appeal whether or not it appears on the hearing of the appeal.

(6) A direction of the Disciplinary Tribunal under subsection (1) shall take effect where –

(a) no appeal under this section is brought against the direction, within the time limit for such an appeal, or on the expiration of that time,

(b) an appeal is brought and is withdrawn or struck out for want of prosecution, on the withdrawal or striking out of the appeal; or

(c) an appeal is brought and is not withdrawn or struck out under paragraph (b), if and when the appeal is dismissed and shall not take effect except in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this subsection.

(7) A person whose name is struck off the register under a direction of the Disciplinary Tribunal under this section shall not be entitled to be registered again, except under a direction in that behalf and a direction under this section for the striking off of a person’s name from the register prohibit him from making an application for membership or restoration of his membership until after the period specified by the direction that his name should be struck off, and if he makes an application during the currency of the prohibition such as application shall be invalid.

Application of this Act to unregistered persons

15.

(1) A person, not being a member of any engineering professional body established before the commencement of this Act, who but for this Act is qualified to apply for membership of the Institute in such manner as may be prescribed by rules made by the Council, shall be given such opportunity to be registered in the category of membership appropriate for the qualification he possesses.

(2) A person who not being registered as an electrical electronic engineering professional but is a practicing electrical and electronic engineering personnel registered with COREN under any other engineering field, shall be given opportunity to be registered in the category of membership appropriate for the experience he possesses.

Persons deemed to practice the profession

16.

A person other than a registered member of the Institute shall be deemed to practice as a member of the profession if in consideration of remuneration received or to be received and whether by himself or in partnership with any other person he –

(a) engages himself in the practice of electrical and electronic engineering services or holds himself out to the public as a member of the electrical and electronic engineering profession;

(b) renders professional service or assistance in or about matters of principle or detail relating to procedures; or

(c) renders any other service which may by regulations made by the Council be designated as service constituting practice as a member of the profession.

Rules of practice

17.

(1) The Council may also make rules for –

(a) the training and practice of the profession.

(b) prescribing the amount and date for payment of annual subscription and for such purpose, a different amount may be prescribed by the rules according to the category of registration;

(c) restricting the right to membership of the Institute in default of payment of the annual subscription where the default continues for more than one year or such period as may be prescribed by the rules; and

(d) annual subscription, and the issuance of annual practicing certificate for all registered personnel in the Institute’s register within a period of 12 months upon the payment of the prescribed fee.

(2) Rules when made under this section, shall be published through the Institute’s communication media.

(3) A member of the Institute who fails to pay the annual practicing fee for one year or such period as may be prescribed by the Council may have his name removed from the register of members.

Provision of library facilities

18.

The Institute shall –

(a) provide and maintain electronic library and a library comprising books and publications for the promotion and advancement of knowledge of the profession, and such other books and publications as the Council may deem necessary; and

(b) encourage research into electrical and electronic engineering theory, practice and allied subjects to the extent that the Council may consider necessary.

Offences and penalties

19.

(1) A person who for the purpose of procuring the registration of any name, qualification or other matter –

(a) makes a statement which he believes to be false in a material particular, or

(b) recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular, commits an offence.

(2) A person who, from the commencement of this Act, is not a member of the Institute but practices or holds himself out to practice as electrical and electronic engineering personnel for or in expectation of reward or takes or uses the name, titles, addition or description implying that he is in practice as an electrical and electronic engineering personnel, commits an offence under this Act.

(3) The provision of subsection (2) shall not apply in respect of anything done by a person during the period of three months mentioned in that subsection.

(4) Where within the period of three months mentioned under subsection (3) the person duly applies for membership of the Institute then, unless within that period he is notified that his application has not been approved, this subsection shall not apply in respect of anything done by him between the end of that period and the date on which he is enrolled or registered or is notified.

(5) The Registrar or any other person employed by or on behalf of the Institute who willfully makes any falsification in any matter relating to the register, commits an offence.

(6) A client who engages an unregistered practitioner commits an offence under this Act.

(7) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N300,000 of imprisonment for a term not more than two years or both.

(8) Where an offence under this subsection committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person purporting to act in any such capacity, he, as well as the body corporate, is deemed to have committed the offence and is liable on conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction in the case of an individual to the punishment prescribed under subsection (5) and in the case of the body corporate, to a fine of at least N2,000,000.

Regulations and rules

20.

(1) Regulations made under this Act shall be published in the journal or website of the Institute.

(2) Rules made for the purpose of this Act shall be subject to confirmation by the Council at its next general meeting or any special meeting of the Institute convened for the purpose, and if annulled shall cease to have effect on the day after the date of annulment, but without prejudice to anything done under such rules.

Interpretation

21.

In this Act – ‘certificate” means a certificate to practice as a chartered electrical and electronic engineering personnel issued by the Institute; “Council” means the Council established as the Governing Council of the Institute under section 4 (1); “chartered electrical and electronic engineering personnel” means a person who has passed the professional competency examinations in his area of specialty and category of the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria (CIEEN); “CIEEEN” shall be the official abbreviation of the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria; “Disciplinary Tribunal” means the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria Disciplinary Tribunal established under section 13(6) of this Act; “fees” includes registration and annual practicing certification; “fellows of the professions” means a member who has attained fellowship cadre of electrical and electronic engineering; “fit person” means a person of good character who is not an undischarged bankrupt and has not been convicted in Nigeria or elsewhere of any offence involving fraud or dishonesty or has not been so convicted since a period to be specified by the Council. “Institute” means the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria (CIEEEN) established under section 1 of this Act; “Investigating Panel” means the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria (CIEEEN) Investigating Panel established under section 13(1) of this Act; “member of the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering” means a person registered by the Institute as a member in his area of specialty and category; “President” and “Vice President” mean the office holders under those names in the Institute respectively; ‘profession” means the electrical and electronic engineering profession; ‘register” means the register kept in accordance with section 9 (9) (a) of this Act; “the Profession” mean all personnel in the fields of – (a) electric power engineering, electronic engineering, clean energy engineering, telecommunications engineering, systems engineering, computer engineering, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, broadcasting, instrumentation, optics and photonics, hardware engineering, power electronics, electromagnetics and waves, microwave engineering, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, mechatronics, biomedical engineering, electrical materials science, robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, control and automation, avionics, quantum engineering, embedded or emerging technologies which cover internet of things, big data, block chain technology, electrical manufacturing industry, electrical maintenance, construction and contracting industries: (b) application of electricity and electronics to medical science, aeronautics, maritime, automobiles; (c) study, teaching, research and development pertaining to any field of engineering or applied sciences of electricity and electronics; and (d) any such new specialties being considered.

First Schedule

22.

This Act may be cited as the Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria Act, 2022.

Citation

2. (3)

Qualification for Membership Categories

1. A person registered under this Act is enrolled in the categories of –

(a) Engineer;

(b) Technologist;

(d) Craftsman; or

(e) Corporate body.

2. The qualifications required for registration as –

(a) an Engineer is bachelor of engineering (B.Eng), bachelor of science (B.Sc) and bachelor of technology (B. Tech);

(b) a Technologist is higher national diploma (FIND;

(d) a Craftsman is Trade Test Certificate (TTC)

(e) a Corporate firm is a company in which the directors or one of the directors is an electrical or electronic engineer as specified under this Act.

Second Schedule

4. (3)

Qualifications and tenure of office of a member of the Council

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, a member of the Council shall hold office for two years beginning from the date of his appointment or election.

(2) A member of the Institute who ceases to be a member of the Institute shall, if he is also a member of the Council cease to hold office in the Council.

(3) A member of the Council may, by notice in writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office.

(4) A member of the Council shall at its meeting next before the general meeting of the Institute, arrange for a replacement of elected members of the Council who are longest in office to retire at that general meeting.

(5) Election to the Council shall be held in such manner as may be prescribed by rules made by the Council and until otherwise decided, they shall be decided by secret ballot

(6) Where for any reason there is a vacancy in the office of a member and if such a member was –

(a) appointed by the Council or any other body, the Council or that other body may appoint another fit person from the area in respect of which the vacancy occurred; or

(b) elected, the Council may, if the time between the unexpired portion of the term of office and the next meeting of the Institute appears to warrant the filling of the vacancy, co-opt some fit and proper person for such time.

Power of the Council

2. The Council shall have the power to carry out the activities of the Institute within the scope of this Act.

Standing Orders

3. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council may, in the name of the Institute, make standing orders regulating the proceedings of the Institute, the Council or any committee set up by the Council or Institute.

(2) The standing orders shall provide for the decision to be taken by a majority of the members, and in the event of an equality of votes, the President or the Chairman, as the case may be, shall have a second or casting vote.

(3) Standing orders made for a committee shall provide that the committee report back to the Council on any matter referred to it by the Council.

(4) The quorum of the Council shall be 50% or the nearest highest whole number but where the meeting is unable to form a quorum in the first instance, the number of members in attendance in the next meeting will be considered a quorum and that meeting shall only hold after wide publicity has been given of the meeting.

General meetings of the Institute

4. (1) The Council shall convene the general meeting of the Institute as may be determined by the Council:

Provided that, a notice of the general meeting shall be given to all members at any time not later than 21 days before the date of the meeting.

(2) Members may attend general meeting wholly in person, virtually or both.

(3) A special general meeting of the Institute may be convened by the Council at any time and if at least 20 members of the Institute so require by notice in writing addressed to the Chairman setting out the object of the proposed meeting, the Chairman shall convene a special general meeting of the Institute:

Provided that, a notice of the special general meeting shall be given to all members of the Institute not later than 21 days before the date of the meeting.

(3) The quorum of any general meeting of the Institute and that of a special general meeting of the Institute shall each be 50 members.

Meetings of the Council

Meetings of the Council

5. (1) Subject to the provisions of any standing orders of the Council, the Council shall meet whenever it is summoned by the Chairman, and if the Chairman is required to do so by notice in writing given to him by at least five other members, he shall summon a meeting of the Council to be held within seven days from the date on which the notice is given and the Council meeting shall be held wholly in person, virtually or both.

(2) At the meeting of the Council, the Chairman or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman shall preside.

(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 the Council deems fit, but a person who is a member by virtue of this subparagraph shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Council, and shall not count towards a quorum.

Committee

Committee

6. (1) The Council may appoint one or more committees to perform on behalf of the Institute or Council such functions as the Council may determine.

(2) A committee appointed under this paragraph shall consist of the number of persons determined by the Council, of which not more than one-third may be persons who are not members of the Council and a person other than a member of the Council shall hold office on the committee in accordance with the terms and conditions of the letter by which he is appointed.

(3) Decisions of a committee of the Council shall be of no effect until confirmed by the Council.

(6) Committee meetings may be wholly in person, virtually or both.

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

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

(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 or of the Council, as the case may require, by 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 deemed to be so executed.

Validity of any proceedings

Validity of any proceedings

8. The validity of any proceedings of the Institute, the Council or a committee of the Council shall not be adversely affected by any vacancy in membership or by any defect in the appointment of a member of the Institute or the Council or of a person to serve on the committee or by reason that a person not entitled to do so, took part in the proceeding.

Disclosure of interest

Disclosure of interest

9. Any member of the Institute or of the Council, and any person holding office on a committee of the Council, who has a personal interest in any contract or arrangement entered into or proposed to be considered by the Council on behalf of the Institute, the Council or a committee, shall immediately disclose his interest to the Chairman or the Council, as the case may be, and shall not vote on any question relating to the contract or arrangement.

Membership not public service

Membership not public service

10. A person shall not by reason only of his membership of the Institute be treated as holding an office in the public service of the Federation.

Third Schedule

13. (8)

Supplementary provisions relating to the Investigating Panel and Disciplinary Tribunal

The Investigating Panel

1. The quorum of the Investigating Panel shall be five.

2. (1) The Investigating Panel may, at any of its meetings attended by all the members of the Investigating Panel, make standing orders regulating the Investigating Panel.

(2) Subject to the provisions of any such standing orders, the Investigating Panel may regulate its proceeding.

The Disciplinary Tribunal

3. The quorum of the Disciplinary Tribunal shall be five members

4. (1) The Attorney-General of the Federation shall make rules as to the selection of members of the Disciplinary Tribunal for any proceedings, as to the procedure to be followed and the rules of evidence to be observed in proceedings before the Disciplinary Tribunal.

(2) The rules shall in particular provide for –

(a) securing that notice of the proceeding be given at such time and in such manner as may be specified by the rules, to the person who is the subject of the proceedings.

(b) determining who, in addition to the person, shall be a party to the proceedings;

(c) securing that any party to the proceeding shall, if he so requires, be entitled to be heard by the Disciplinary Tribunal;

(d) enabling any party to the proceeding to be represented by a legal practitioner;

(e) subject to the provisions of section 14 (6) of this Act, the cost of proceedings before the Disciplinary Tribunal;

(f) requiring in a case where it is alleged that the person who is the subject of the proceedings is guilty of infamous conduct in any professional respect, that where the Disciplinary Tribunal adjudges that the allegation has not been proved it shall record a finding that the person is not guilty of such conduct in respect of the matters to which the allegation relates; and

(g) publishing notice of any direction of the Disciplinary Tribunal which has taken effect providing that a person’s name be struck off a register.

5. For any proceedings before the Disciplinary Tribunal, any member of the Disciplinary Tribunal may administer oaths and any party to the proceedings may issue out of the registry of the Federal High Court writs of subpoena ad testificandum and decus tecum, but a person shall not be compelled to –

(a) make any statement before the Disciplinary Tribunal tending to incriminate himself; or

(b) produce any document under such a writ which he could not be compelled to produce at the trial of an action.

6. (1) For the purpose of advising the Disciplinary Tribunal on questions of law arising in proceedings before it, there shall in all such proceedings be an assessor to the Disciplinary Tribunal who shall be appointed by the Council on the nomination of the Attorney-General of the Federation and shall be a legal practitioner of not less than seven years.

(2) The Attorney-General of the Federation shall make rules as to the functions of the assessors appointed under this paragraph, and in particular such rules shall contain provisions for securing that –

(a) where an assessor advises the Disciplinary Tribunal on any question of law as to evidence, procedure or any other matter specified by the rules, he shall do so in the presence of every party or person representing a party to the proceedings who appears there or, if the advice is tendered while the Disciplinary Tribunal is deliberating in private, that every such party or person shall be informed what advice the assessor has tendered; and

(b) every such party or person shall be informed if in any case the Disciplinary Tribunal does not accept the advice of the assessor on such a question.

(3) An Assessor may .be appointed under this paragraph either generally or for any particular proceedings or class of proceedings and shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms and conditions of the letter by which he was appointed.

Miscellaneous

7. (1) A person who ceases to be a member of the Investigating Panel or the Disciplinary Tribunal shall be eligible for re-appointment as a member of the Investigating Panel or Disciplinary Tribunal as the case may be:

Provided that a person shall not serve in the Investigating Panel for more than two consecutive terms of two years each.

(2) A person may, if otherwise eligible, be a member of both the Disciplinary Tribunal and the Investigating Panel, but no person who acted as a member of the Investigating Panel concerning any case shall act as a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal with respect to that case.

8. The Disciplinary Tribunal or Investigating Panel may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership, and the proceedings of either body shall not be invalidated by any irregularity in the appointment of a member of that body, or subject to paragraph 7 (2), by reason of the fact that any person who was not entitled to do so took part in the proceedings of that body.

9. Any document authorised or required by virtue of this Act to be served on the Disciplinary Tribunal or Investigating Panel shall be served on the Registrar.

10. Any expenses of the Disciplinary Tribunal or the Investigating Panel shall be defrayed by the Institute.