1. What is Congress in FECA?

The word Congress can be defined as a formal meeting that is meant to bring together all the representatives of...

1. What is Congress in FECA?

The word Congress can be defined as a formal meeting that is meant to bring together all the representatives of different arms of leadership (legislative) of a particular organization in order to create laws for the organization, adjust organizational structure/strategies or set goals for the organization. According to Dictionary.com, "Congress is a formal meeting or assembly of representatives for the discussion, arrangement, or promotion of some matter of common interest. [It is also the] act of coming together; an encounter; meeting. [Often times, it is] an association, especially one composed of representatives of various organizations." With this definition, Congress has a lot to do with people of the same organization with the same interest who come together in a formal meeting to discuss important issues and create a plan for the benefit of all. This is what FECA Congress is all about. Because in Congress, for instance chapter congress, all the unit heads, Cell leaders FECA Campus Network (FCN) coordinators, and General Coordinators will come together, with the Executives and probably a guest speaker (which might be the Zonal coordinator or Zonal secretary, or a Senior member). They do this for the benefit of the Chapter and to ensure that all hands are on deck to achieve the set goals and plans for the tenure. 

2. Who is a Congressman?

A Congressman in FECA is an individual who is actively serving in the Federation of Colleges Ex-Students Christian Association (FECA). A congressman can also be referred to as an executive. An executive (Exco) is different from a General Coordinator (Genco). The difference between the two groups is that Excos are persons who are elected to serve as constitutional leaders (usually the first eight offices) while the Gencos comprises of the General Coordinators and their assistants as well as the unit heads and their assistants. For instance, offices like the President, Vice President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Outreach Coordinator, External Coordinator, Prayer Secretary and Financial Secretary are authentic congressmen because they are the executives who can attend FECA National Congress Meetings and at the Zonal level, they can also attend the Zonal Congress Meetings because they are constitutional leaders.

3. What is the meaning of Constitutional leader?

What Constitutional leaders mean is that they are offices that are recognized in the constitution of FECA Nigeria due to the importance of the tasks and roles that they play in furthering the vision of FECA. Constitutional leaders are the first eight offices in FECA such as the President, Vice President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Prayer Secretary, Financial Secretary, Outreach Coordinator and External Coordinator. Constitutional leaders are drawn from the beginning days of FECA, and they are the eight leaders that make up the National leadership/National Executive Council (NEC).  Whereas the offices like the Music Coordinator, Drama coordinator, Dance, coordinator, Technical coordinator, Decoration leader, Ushering coordinator, Welfare coordinator, Generation Day coordinator, Library Secretary, Media coordinator, Brothers and Sisters coordinator, Hostel Leaders and Cell leaders are also Congressmen only at the Chapter level.

4. Types of Congress in FECA Nigeria

There are four types of Congress in FECA. 

1. Chapter Congress


2. Zonal Congress


3. Regional Congress


4. National Congress

Chapter Congress: This is the type of Congress that is being held at the Chapter level. This Congress comprises of the executives and the General Coordinators. 

Zonal Congress: This is the Congress that is being held at the Zonal level. The zonal congress comprise of a formal meeting whereby all the chapters in the zone would come together in a particular venue and deliberate on important matters. The Zonal Coordinator and Zonal Secretary are the ones that are in charge of this congress with the Zonal Coordinator presiding over all the Congress. 

Regional Congress: This is the Congress held at the regional level. The regional level is where you have the regional coordinator and regional secretary who are in charge of the zones under their geo-political jurisdiction. For instance there are four regions in FECA and these four regions embody zones. Some have 12 zones, some have 2 zones, some have 9 zones. Each of these zones (from specific geopolitical zones) are under the umbrella of the Regionals (Regional Coordinator and Regional Secretary) who are accountable to the National Executive Council.  The congress at this level is being presided by the regional coordinator. It is the Zonal coordinators and Zonal Secretaries that attend this congress. 

National Congress: This is the peak of Congress. It is the congress that is presided by the National President, with all the members of the National Executive Council, regional coordinators and regional secretaries, zonal coordinators and zonal secretaries and all Chapters' executives in attendance. 

5. What do they do in Congress?

• There are many things that are done in Congress. It is in congress that people are taught how to present reports, how to approach issues in the chapter, and raking is not left out in congress. Raking is when you are being given a fare punishment for a simple task badly done or for doing excellently, what you are not supposed to do at all. 


• It is in Congress that the year goals and plans are being reported; tenure focus, office goals and plans, and budget for programs of the year are also being reported in congress. 


• National leaders are also being elected in Congress.


• The members of trusteeship board are also being elected in congress.