NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY(ESTABLISHMENT, ETC.) ACT

PostedOctober 30, 2020

UpdatedOctober 30, 2020

ByKhadfora

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Establishment, etc., of the National Emergency Management Agency
and the Governing Council

SECTION

1. Establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency, etc.

2. Establishment and membership of the Governing Council of the Agency.

3. Tenure of office.

4. Cessation of membership.

5. Allowances of members.

PART II

Functions and powers of the Agency, etc.

6. Functions of the Agency

7. Powers of the Council.

PART III

Establishment of State Emergency Management Committees, etc.

8. Establishment of State Committeee

9. Functions of State Committee.

PART IV

Staff

10. Appointment of Director-General of the Agency.

11. Appointment of other staff of the Agency.

12. Service in the Agency to be pensionable.

PART V

Financial provisions

13. Fund of the Agency.

14. Expenditure of the Agency.

15. Gifts to the Agency.

16. Award of contracts.

17. Power to borrow.

18. Annual estimates and expenditure.

19. Annual report.

PART VI

Miscellaneous

SECTION

20.

Requisition, etc.

21.

Offices and premises of the Agency.

22.

Directives by the President.

23.

Repeal of Cap. 257 L.F.N. 1990 and saving provisions.

24.

Regulations.

25.

Interpretation.

26.

Short title.

SCHEDULE

Supplementary provisions relating to the Council, etc.

An Act to establish a National Emergency Management Agency and a State Emer-
gency Management Committee for each State in the Federation; and to make
provision for other matters connected therewith.

[1999 No. 12.]

[23rd March, 1999]

[Commencement.]

PART I

Establishment, etc., of the National Emergency Management Agency
and the Governing Council

Establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency, etc.

(1) There is hereby established a body to be known as the National Emergency Man-

agement Agency (in this Act referred to as “the Agency”).

(2) The Agency-

(a) shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession; and

(b) may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

Establishment and membership of the Governing Council of the Agency

(1) There is hereby established for the management of the Agency a governing coun-
cil (in this Act referred to as “the Council”).

(2) The Council shall consist of-

(a) the Vice-President who shall be the chairman;

(b) the Secretary to the Government of the Federation;

below the rank of a Director, that is-

(i) Aviation;

(ii) Foreign Affairs;
(iii) Health;

(iv) Internal Affairs;
(v) Transport;

(vi) Water Resources;
(vii) Works and Housing;

(d) one representative each of-

(i) the armed forces;

(ii) the Nigerian Police Force;

(iii) the Nigerian Red Cross Society;

(iv) such voluntary organisations as may be determined from time to time;
and

(e) the Director-General of the Agency.

(3) The members of the Council, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed
by the President; and shall be persons of proven integrity and ability.

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

Tenure of office

Subject to the provisions of section 4 of this Act, a member of the Council, other than
ex-officio members, shall hold office-

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

(b) on such terms and conditions as may be specified in his letter of appointment.

Cessation of membership

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of this Act a person shall cease to

hold office as a member of the Council if-

(a) he becomes bankrupt, suspends payment or compounds with his creditors; or

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

(e) he is guilty of a serious misconduct in relation to his duties; or

(f) in the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he is disquali-
fied or suspended, other than at his own request, from practising his profession
in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority made in respect
of that member; or

(g) he resigns his appointment by a letter addressed to the President.

(2) If a member of the Council ceases to hold office, for any reason whatsoever, be-
fore the expiration of the term for which he is appointed, another person representing the
same interest as that member shall be appointed to the Council for the unexpired term.

(3) A member of the Council may be removed by the President if he is satisfied that
it is not in the interest of the Agency or the interest of the public that the member contin-
ues in office.

5. Allowances of members

There shall be paid to every member of the Council such allowances and expenses as
the Federal Government may, from time to time, direct.

PART II

Functions and powers of the Agency, etc.

Functions of the Agency
(1) The Agency shall-

(a) formulate policy on all activities relating to disaster management in Nigeria
and co-ordinate the plans and programmes for efficient and effective response
to disasters at national level;

(b) co-ordinate and promote research activities relating to disaster management at
the national level;

(c) monitor the state of preparedness of all organisations or agencies which may
contribute to disaster management in Nigeria;

(d) collate data from relevant agencies so as to enhance forecasting, planning and
field operation of disaster management;

(e) educate and inform the public on disaster prevention and control measures;

(f) co-ordinate and facilitate the provision of necessary resources for search and
rescue and other types of disaster curtailment activities in response to distress
call;

(g) co-ordinate the activities of all voluntary organisations engaged in emergency
relief operations in any part of the Federation;

(h) receive financial and technical aid from international organisations and non-
governmental agencies for the purpose of disaster management in Nigeria;

(i) collect emergency relief supply from local and foreign sources and from inter-
national and non-governmental agencies;

(j) distribute emergency relief materials to victims of natural or other disasters
and assist in the rehabilitation of the victims where necessary;

(k) liaise with State Emergency Management Committees established under sec-
tion 8 of this Act to assess and monitor, where necessary, the distribution of
relief materials to disaster victims;

(l) process relief assistance to such countries as may be determined from time to
time;

(m) liaise with the United Nations Disaster Reduction Organisation or such other
international bodies for the reduction of natural and other disaster;

(n) prepare the annual budget for disaster management in Nigeria; and

(o) perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Agency are required
for the purpose of achieving its objectives under this Act.

(2) For the purpose of paragraphs (e), (j), (j), (k) and (m) of subsection (1) of this
section-

“natural or other disasters” include any disaster arising from any crisis, epidemic,
drought, tlood, earthquake, storm, train, roads, aircraft, oil spillage or other accidents and
mass deportation or repatriation of Nigerians from any other country.

Powers of the Council

The Council shall have power to-

(a) manage and superintend the affairs of the Agency;

(b) subject to the provisions of this Act, make, alter and revoke rules and regula-
tions for carrying on the functions of the Agency;

(c) fix the terms and conditions of service, including remuneration of the employ-
ees of the Agency after consultation with the Federal Civil Service Commis-
sion; and

(d) do such other things which in the opinion of the Agency are necessary to en-
sure the efficient performance of the functions of the Agency.

PART III

Establishment of State Emergency Management Committees, etc.

Establishment of State Committees

(1) There is hereby established for each State of the Federation, a State Emergency

Management Committee (in this Act referred to as “the State Committee”).

(2) The State Committee shall consist of-

(a) the Deputy Governor of the state who shall be the chairman;

(b) the Secretary to the State Government;

(c) one representative each from-

(i) the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare;
(ii) the State Ministry of Health;

(iii) the State Ministry of Works;

(iv) the State Fire Service;
(v) the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria;
(vi) the State Environmental Protection Agency;
(vii) the Agency;

(viii) the Commander of the Disaster Reaction Units;

(ix) the Nigerian Police Force;
(x) the Federal Road Safety Commission;

(xi) the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps;
(xii) the Nigerian Red Cross Society;

(xiii) the National Maritime Authority in coastal States.

(3) The members of the State Committee shall-

(a) be persons of proven integrity;

(b) other than ex-officio members, hold office on such term as may be specified by
the Governor of the State;

(c) be appointed by the Governor of the State; and

(d) be paid such allowances as the Governor of the State may, from time to time,
determine.

(4) The State Committee may make rules regulating its own proceedings.

(5) The provisions of section 4 of this Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the State
Committee.

Functions of State Committee
The State Committee shall-

(a) notify the Agency of any natural or other disasters occurring in the State;

(b) respond to any disaster within the State and may seek assistance from the
Agency if it deems fit in each circumstance;

(c) carry out disaster management activities in the State as may, from time to time,
be recommended by the Agency; and

(d) be accountable to the Agency for all funds accruing to it for purposes of dis-
charging its functions under this Act.

PART IV

Staff

10. Appointment of Director-General of the Agency

(1) There shall be for the Agency a Director-General, who shall be appointed by the
President.

(2) The Director-General shall be-

(a) the chief executive and accounting officer of the Agency;

(b) responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Agency.

(3) The Director-General shall hold office on such terms and conditions as are speci-
fied in his letter of appointment.

11. Appointment of other staff of the Agency

(1) The Council shall appoint for the Agency such number of employees as may in
the opinion of the Council be expedient and necessary for the proper and efficient per-
formance of the functions of the Agency.

(2) The terms and conditions of service (including remuneration, allowances, benefits
and pensions) of the employees of the Agency shall be as determined by the Council after
consultation with the Federal Civil Service Commission.

12. Service in the Agency to be pensionable

(1) Service in the Agency shall be approved service for the purposes of the Pensions
Act.

[Cap. P4.]

(2) The officers and other persons employed in the Agency shall be entitled to pen-
sions, gratuities and other retirement benefits as are enjoyed by persons holding equiva-
lent grades in the civil service of the Federation.

(3) Nothing in subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall prevent the appointment of
a person to any office on terms which preclude the grant of pension and gratuity in re-
spect of that office.

(4) For the purposes of the application of the provisions of the Pensions Act, any
power exercisable thereunder by the Minister or other authority of the Government of the
Federation, other than the power to make regulations under section 23 thereof, is hereby
vested in and shall be exercisable by the Board, and not by any other person or authority.

[Cap. P4.]

PART V

Financial provisions

13. Fund of the Agency

(1) The Agency shall establish and maintain a fund from which shall be defrayed all
expenditure incurred by the Agency.

(2) There shall be paid and credited to the fund established pursuant to subsection (1)
of this section-

(a) any allocation to the Agency from the Federation Account;

(b) 20% of the Ecological Fund for the management of ecologically related disas-
ters;

(c) such monies as may, from time to time, be granted or lent to the Agency by the
Federal Government or a State Government or a local government council;

(d) such money as may, from time to time, be granted or received from-

(i) the organised private sector;

(ii) international or donor organisations and non-Governmental organisa-
tions;

(e) all monies raised for the purposes of the Agency by way of gifts, loan, grants-
in-aid, testamentary disposition or otherwise;

(f) such money as may be received from the National Emergency Trust Fund; and

(g) all other assets that may, from time to time, accrue to the Agency.

(3) The fund shall be managed in accordance with the rules made by the President
and without prejudice to the generality of the power to make rules under this subsection,
the rules shall in particular contain provisions-

(a) specifying the manner in which the assets or the fund of the Agency are to be
held, and regulating the making of payments into and out of the fund; and

(b) requiring the keeping of proper accounts and records for the purpose of the
fund in such form as may be specified in the rules.

14. Expenditure of the Agency

The Agency shall apply the proceeds of the fund established pursuant to section 13 of
this Act to-

(a) the cost of administration of the Agency;

(a) the payment of salaries, fees, remuneration, allowances, pensions and gratui-
ties payable to the Council members and the employees of the Agency;

(c) the payment for all contracts, including mobilisation, fluctuations; variations,
legal fees and cost on contract administration;

(d) the payment for all purchases; and

(e) undertaking such other activities as are connected with all or any of the func-
tions of the Agency under this Act.

15. Gifts to the Agency

(1) The Agency may accepts gifts of land, money or other property on such terms and
conditions, if any, as may be specified by the person or organisation making the gift.

(2) The Agency shall not accept any gift if the conditions attached by the person or
organisation making the gift are inconsistent with the functions of the Agency under this
Act.

16. Award of contracts

(1) The Agency shall have power to award contracts not exceeding the sum of
N30 million for the performance of any of its functions under this Act.

(2) The Agency shall not award a contract exceeding the said sum of N30 million
without the prior approval of the President.

17. Power to borrow

(1) The Agency may, with the consent of the President, borrow on such terms and
conditions as the Agency may determine, such sums of money as the Agency may require
in the exercise of its functions under this Act.

(2) The Agency shall not, without the approval of the President, borrow money
which exceeds, at any time, the limit set by the President.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, where the sum to be borrowed is
in foreign currency, whether or not it exceeds the limit set by the President, the Council
shall not borrow the sum without the prior approval of the President.

18. Annual estimates and expenditure

(1) The Council shall, not later than 30 September in each year, submit to the Presi-
dent an estimate of the expenditure and income of the Agency during the next succeeding
year.

(2) The Council shall cause to be kept proper accounts of the Agency in respect of
each year and proper records in relation thereto and shall cause the accounts to be audited
not later than six months after the end of each year by auditors appointed from the list
and in accordance with the guidelines supplied by the Auditor-General for the Federation.

19. Annual report

The Council shall prepare and submit to the President, not later than 30 June in each
year, a report in such form as the President may direct on the activities of the Agency
during the immediately preceding year, and shall include in the report a copy of the
audited accounts of the Agency for that year and the auditor’s report thereon.

PART V

Miscellaneous

20. Requisition, etc.

(1) In the exercise of its functions under this Act, the Agency may demand by requi-
sition from any organisation, any available equipment, facilities or personnel which may
assist in a speedy and effective search and rescue operation and any other form of disaster
operation during a period of emergency.

(2) Any organisation which-

(a) wilfully obstructs or impedes the Agency or any person acting under the
authority of the Agency in the exercise of any powers or duties under this Act;
or

(b) without reasonable excuse fails to-

(i) render assistance or release any available equipment, facility or per-
sonnel required for a search and rescue operation or other disaster cur-
tailment activities; or

(ii) comply with a directive of the Agency,

is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N50, 000 or im-
prisonment for a term of six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(3) The Agency shall provide compensation for loss or damage arising from the use
of any equipment, facility or personnel required under this section of this Act.

21. Offices and premises of the Agency

(1) For the purposes of providing offices and premises necessary for the performance
of its functions under this Act, the Agency may, subject to the Land Use Act-

[Cap. L5.]

(a) purchase or take on lease any interest in land, or other property; and

(b) construct offices and premises and equip and maintain same.

(2) The Agency may, subject to the Land Use Act, sell or lease out any office or
premises held by it, which office or premises is no longer required for the performance of
its functions under this Act.

[Cap. L5.]

22. Directives by the President

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the President may give to the Agency directives
of a general nature or relating generally to matters of policy with regard to the perform-
ance by the Agency of its functions and it shall be the duty of the Agency to comply with
the directives.

23. Repeal of Cap. 257 L.F.N. 1990 and saving provision

(1) The National Emergency Relief Agency Act is hereby repealed and accordingly
the Agency established under that Act (in this section referred to as “the dissolved
Agency”) is consequentially dissolved.

(2) By virtue of this Act, there shall be vested in the Agency immediately at the
commencement of this Act, without further assurance, all assets, funds, resources and
other movable and immovable property which immediately before the commencement of
this Act were vested in the dissolved Agency.

(3) As from the date of commencement of this Act-

(a) all rights, interests, obligations and liabilities of the dissolved Agency existing
before the commencement of this Act under any contract or instrument, or in
law or in equity, shall by virtue of this Act be assigned to and vested in the
Agency established by this Act;

(b) any contract or instrument as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection
shall be of the same force and effect against or in favour of the Agency estab-
lished by this Act and shall be enforceable as fully and effectively as if instead
of the dissolved Agency, the Agency established by this Act had been named
therein or had been a party thereto;

(c) the Agency established by this Act shall be subject to all the obligations and
liabilities to which the dissolved Agency was subject immediately before the
commencement of this Act and all other persons shall have the same rights,
powers and remedies against the Agency as they had against the dissolved
Agency immediately before the commencement of this Act.

(4) Any proceedings or cause of action pending or existing immediately before the
commencement of this Act by or against the dissolved Agency in respect of any right,
interest, obligation or liability of the dissolved Agency may be commenced or continued,
as the case may be, and any determination of any court of law, tribunal or other authority
or person may be enforced by or against the Agency to the same extent that the proceed-
ings, cause of action or determination might have been continued, commenced or en-
forced by or against the dissolved Agency as if this Act had not been made.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act but subject to such directions as may
be issued by the Agency established by this Act, a person who immediately before the
commencement of this Act held office in the dissolved Agency shall be deemed to have
been transferred to the Agency established by this Act on terms and conditions not less
favourable than those obtaining immediately before the commencement of this Act, and
service in the dissolved Agency shall be deemed to be service in the Agency established
by this Act for purposes of pension.

(6) The President, if he thinks fit, may, within twelve months after the commence-
ment of this Act, by order published in the Gazette, make additional transitional or sav-
ings provisions for the better carrying out of the objectives of this section.

24. Regulations

The Agency may, with the approval of the President, make regulations, generally for
the purposes of giving full effect to this Act.

25. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

“Agency” means the National Emergency Management Agency established under
section 1 of this Act;

“chairman” means the chairman of the Council;

“Council” means the governing council established for the Agency under sec-
tion 2 (1) of this Act;

“member” means a member of the Council and includes the chairman;

“President” means the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

“Vice-President” means the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

26. Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Emergency Management Agency (Establish-
ment, etc.) Act.

SCHEDULE
[Section 2 (4).]

Supplementary provisions relating to the Council, etc.

Proceedings of the Council

1. (1) Subject to this Act and section 27 of the Interpretation Act, the Council may make
standing orders regulating its proceedings or those of any of its committees.

[Cap. 123.]

(2) The quorum of the Council shall be the chairman or the person presiding at the
meeting and five other members of the Council, and the quorum of any committee of the
Council shall be as determined by the Council.

2. (1) 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 eight 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 the meeting.

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

Committees

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

(2) A committee appointed under this paragraph shall consist of such number of persons
as may be determined by the Council and a person shall hold office on the committee in ac-
cordance 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 Agency shall be authenticated by the signatures of the
chairman, the Director-General or any person generally or specifically authorised by the
Council 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
Agency by the Director-General or any person generally or specifically authorised by the
Council to act for that purpose.

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

5. The validity of any proceedings of the Council or of a committee shall not be adversely
affected by-

(a) a vacancy in the membership of the Council or committee; or

(b) a defect in the appointment of a member of the Council or committee; or

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

No Subsidiary Legislation

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NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY(ESTABLISHMENT, ETC.) ACT