CHAPTER 18: - Rights of all Peoples to Control their Natural Resources and to Freedom from Foreign Economic Exploitation: - Article 21. 1. Constitutional Measure  Though the Nigerian Constitution does not declare or guarantee the above rights, the combined effect of sections 14-20 is that the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that : a) the State shall, within the context of the ideals and objectives for which provisions are made in this Constitution - harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, dynamic and self-reliant economy; control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity; without prejudice to the right of any person to participate in areas of the economy within the major sectors of the economy, protect the right of every citizen to engage in any economic activities outside the major sectors of the economy. b) the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring: - the promotion of a planned and balanced economic development; that the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good; that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group. c) a body shall be set up by an Act of the National Assembly which shall have power - to review, from time to time, the ownership and control of business enterprises operating in Nigeria and make recommendations to the President on same; and to administer any law for the regulation of the ownership and control of such enterprises. d) exploitation of human or natural resources in any form whatsoever for reasons, other than the good of the community, shall be prevented. 2. Legislative Measure  Furthermore, the Federal Government of Nigeria seeks to address the above through NEITI Act 2007: - o Ensure due process and transparency in the payments made by all extractive industry companies to the federal government and all statutory recipients. o Monitor and ensure accountability in the revenue receipts of the Federal Government from the extractive industry companies. o Eliminating all forms of corrupt practices in the determination, payments, receipt to and posing of revenues to the Federal Government from extractive industry companies. o Ensure transparency and accountability by government in the application of resources from payments received from extractive industry companies. o Ensure conforming with the principles of extractive industry transparency initiative (EITI) in all activities relating to mining. 102