13. It shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of
government, and of all authorities and persons, exercising
legislative, executive or judicial powers, to conform to, observe
and apply the provisions of this Chapter of this Constitution.
14.
(1) The Federal Republic of
Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and
social justice.
(2) It is hereby,
accordingly, declared that:
(a) sovereignty
belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government
through this Constitution derives all its powers and
authority;
(b) the security and
welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of
government: and
(c) the participation
by the people in their government shall be ensured in
accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
(3) The composition of the
Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the
conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as
to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to
promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty,
thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons
from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups
in that Government or in any of its agencies.
(4) The composition of the
Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the
agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the
affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be
carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the
people within its area of authority and the need to promote a
sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the
Federation.
15.
(1) The motto of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria shall be Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.
(2) Accordingly, national
integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination
on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic
or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited.
(3) For the purpose of
promoting national integration, it shall be the duty of the
State to:
(a) provide adequate
facilities for and encourage free mobility of people, goods
and services throughtout the Federation.
(b) secure full
residence rights for every citizen in all parts of the
Federation.
(c) encourage
inter-marriage among persons from different places of
origin, or of different religious, ethnic or linguistic
association or ties; and
(d) promote or
encourage the formation of associations that cut across
ethnic, linguistic, religious and or other sectional
barriers.
(4) The State shall foster
a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various
people of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation
shall override sectional loyalties.
(5) The State shall
abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.
16.
(1) The State shall, within
the context of the ideals and objectives for which provisions are
made in this Constitution.
(a) harness the
resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and
an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy;
(b) 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;
(c) without prejudice
to its right to operate or participate in areas of the
economy, other than the major sectors of the economy, manage
and operate the major sectors of the economy;
(d) without prejudice
to the right of any person to participate in areas of the
economy within the major sector of the economy, protect the
right of every citizen to engage in any economic activities
outside the major sectors of the economy.
(2) The State shall direct
its policy towards ensuring:
(a)
the promotion of a planned and balanced economic development;
(b)
that the material resources of the nation are harnessed and
distributed as best as possible to serve the common good;
(c)
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; and
(d)
that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate
food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care
and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of
the disabled are provided for all citizens.
(3) A body shall be set up
by an Act of the National Assembly which shall have power;
(a) 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
(b) to administer any
law for the regulation of the ownership and control of such
enterprises.
(4) For the purposes of
subsection (1) of this section -
(a) the reference to
the "major sectors of the economy" shall be construed as a
reference to such economic activities as may, from time to
time, be declared by a resolution of each House of the
National Assembly to be managed and operated exclusively by
the Government of the Federation, and until a resolution to
the contrary is made by the National Assembly, economic
activities being operated exclusively by the Government of
the Federation on the date immediately preceding the day
when this section comes into force, whether directly or
through the agencies of a statutory or other corporation or
company, shall be deemed to be major sectors of the economy;
(b) "economic
activities" includes activities directly concerned with the
production, distribution and exchange of weather or of goods
and services; and
(c) "participate"
includes the rendering of services and supplying of goods.
17.
(1) The State social order
is founded on ideals of Freedom, Equality and Justice.
(2) In furtherance of the
social order-
(a) every citizen
shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities
before the law;
(b) the sanctity of
the human person shall be recognised and human dignity shall
be maintained and enhanced;
(c) governmental
actions shall be humane;
(d) exploitation of
human or natural resources in any form whatsoever for
reasons, other than the good of the community, shall be
prevented; and
(e) the independence,
impartiality and integrity of courts of law, and easy
accessibility thereto shall be secured and maintained.
(3) The State shall direct
its policy towards ensuring that-
(a) all citizens,
without discrimination on any group whatsoever, have the
opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as
well as adequate opportunity to secure suitable employment;
(b) conditions of work
are just and humane, and that there are adequate facilities
for leisure and for social, religious and cultural life;
(c) the health, safety
and welfare of all persons in employment are safeguarded and
not endangered or abused;
(d) there are adequate
medical and health facilities for all persons:
(e) there is equal pay
for equal work without discrimination on account of sex, or
on any other ground whatsoever;
(f) children, young
persons and the age are protected against any exploitation
whatsoever, and against moral and material neglect;
(g) provision is made
for public assistance in deserving cases or other conditions
of need; and
(h) the evolution and
promotion of family life is encouraged.
18.
(1) Government shall direct
its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate
educational opportunities at all levels.
(2) Government shall
promote science and technology
(3) Government shall
strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end Government shall
as and when practicable provide
(a) free, compulsory
and universal primary education;
(b) free secondary
education;
(c) free university
education; and
(d) free adult
literacy programme.
19. The foreign
policy objectives shall be -
(a) promotion and
protection of the national interest;
(b) promotion of
African integration and support for African unity;
(c) promotion of
international co-operation for the consolidation of
universal peace and mutual respect among all nations and
elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations;
(d) respect for
international law and treaty obligations as well as the
seeking of settlement of international disputes by
negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and
adjudication; and
(e) promotion of a
just world economic order.
20. The State shall
protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air
and land, forest and wild life of Nigeria.
21. The State shall
-
(a) protect, preserve
and promote the Nigerian cultures which enhance human
dignity and are consistent with the fundamental objectives
as provided in this Chapter; and
(b) encourage
development of technological and scientific studies which
enhance cultural values.
22. The press,
radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at
all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained
in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability
of the Government to the people.
23. The national
ethics shall be Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labour, Social,
Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance and Patriotism.
24. It shall be the
duty of every citizen to -
(a) abide by this
Constitution, respect its ideals and its institutions, the
National Flag, the National Anthem, the National Pledge, and
legitimate authorities;
(b) help to enhance
the power, prestige and good name of Nigeria, defend Nigeria
and render such national service as may be required;
(c) respect the
dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate
interests of others and live in unity and harmony and in the
spirit of common brotherhood;
(d) make positive and
useful contribution to the advancement, progress and
well-being of the community where he resides;
(e) render assistance
to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law
and order; and
(f) declare his income
honestly to appropriate and lawful agencies and pay his tax
promptly.
