Article 16 The National Governing Council/Commission 1. The NGC shall be autonomous from the Government and its composition shall be inclusive of representatives of all key stakeholders in society, including state and non-state actors such as key line ministries, parliament, civil society, media, private sector, youth and women’s groups, the disabled, marginalized communities, rural communities, trade unions and professional bodies. 2. Members of the NGCs shall be eminent and renowned persons who command the respect of other members of the NGC and/or the general citizenry. 3 The NGCs shall be led by a Chairperson who does not officially hold a leadership position in any political party; 4 The NGC shall: a. provide strategic policy guidance for the implementation of the APRM; b. Facilitate the establishment of the APRM National Secretariat and oversee its operation; c. ensure that the review process is technically competent, credible and free from political manipulation; d. lead the APRM sensitization programmes country-wide and ensure that all stakeholders participate in the process and own it; and e. ensure that all the concerns outlined in the self–assessment reports and in the country review reports are addressed in the National Programmes of Action (NOPA) which meet all the agreed criteria. 5. 20 In establishing their respective NGCs, Member States shall define their terms of reference, determine their legal status, the terms of service and duration of appointment of the Chairperson and other members, Statute of the African Peer Review Mechanism, August 2016V11082016