JAMB UTME - Government - 2008

The Nigerian federalism is a three-tier system. This means that the country is divided into three levels of government: federal, state and local. The federal government has the highest level of authority and is responsible for matters that affect the entire country, such as defense and foreign affairs. The state governments have authority over matters that are specific to their individual states, such as education and healthcare. The local governments, on the other hand, are responsible for the administration of their local areas, such as providing basic amenities like water and sanitation. The three-tier system allows for a decentralized approach to governance, where power and responsibilities are shared between the different levels of government.

Early nationalism in Nigeria was essentially reformist. This means that the early nationalists in Nigeria sought to reform the colonial system rather than overthrow it. They were mostly educated elites who demanded more political representation and a greater say in the governance of their country. They sought to work with the British colonial authorities to achieve these goals, rather than resorting to violence or other revolutionary means. This early nationalism was marked by a sense of optimism and a belief in the possibility of peaceful change through negotiation and compromise.

The attribute that makes a state to be recognized as independent is sovereignty. Sovereignty refers to the full and absolute power of a state to govern itself without external interference. In order for a state to be recognized as independent, it must have complete control over its own affairs and be recognized as a legal entity by other states in the international community. This means that it must have its own government, population, and territory, but the key distinguishing factor is its ability to exercise sovereignty.

The British colonial rule in Nigeria brought about the pampering of traditional rulers.

There was protection and strengthening of power of chiefs beyond traditional bounds. The British colonial rule in Nigeria made the traditional rules to be autocratic. Much concentration of power in the hands of few traditional rulers brought about marginalization of majority of the people.

The act of denying an eligible person the right to vote in an election is called disenfranchisement. This means that even though someone is eligible and has the right to vote, they are prevented from doing so for some reason. This can happen for various reasons, such as if someone is not registered to vote, if they are wrongly removed from the voter rolls, or if there are barriers put in place that make it difficult for them to vote. Disenfranchisement can be a form of voter suppression and can have a negative impact on democracy.

ECOWAS main achievement in recent years has been in the area of Political Unity.

The fact that many countries with different colonial backgrounds came together and have remained together in the last sixteen years is a remarkable achievement. It is due to unity that the sub-region has been able to think of certain projects to link the 10,000km high way projects such to link the capital cities of the member states. Another is the establishment of ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) which has succeeded in bringing about peace in certain places such as Liberia and Sierra Leone in 1998 and 1999 respectively.

The state with an unwritten constitution is Britain. An unwritten constitution is a constitution that is not contained in a single written document or even a series of documents. It is a constitution that is mainly based on traditions, customs, and various written laws. In the case of Britain, their constitution is mainly based on various Acts of Parliament, judicial decisions, and customs that have developed over the centuries.

Republicanism is a perverted form of democracy.

It is a representative democracy in which government is by the consent of the people. In short, it is a true test of Democracy.

Kingship, aristocracy and constitutional government are the true constitutional forms but they all have perversions that come to being when the rulers of these governments are catering self-interest instead of the common interest. Kingship turns to tyranny when perverted, aristocracy turns to oligarchy and democracy is the perversion of the constitutional government of many. Democracy is the rule of the many poor who work for the interest of the needy while oligarchy is the rule of the few rich that take only their interest in account as rulers. And tyranny, the perversion of monarchy is a constitution formed for the interest of the one tyrannical ruler.

Membership of a society is voluntary. This means that it is a choice made by an individual to become a member of a society. It is not mandatory or required by law. Additionally, membership is not necessarily reserved for a specific group of people, and it is not an honorary title that is bestowed upon someone. Rather, it is a decision made by an individual to join a group or organization with shared interests, goals, or values.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body responsible for conducting general elections in Nigeria's Fourth Republic. INEC is an independent body created by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to organize and conduct elections in the country. It has the responsibility to ensure that elections are conducted freely, fairly, and transparently, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act. Therefore, option B, which is the Independent National Electoral Commission, is the correct answer.

Efficiency is an advantage of delegated legislation.

Delegated Legislation makes for efficiency and precision. It helps to deal with issues that require some technicalities. When a subject is highly technical and requires some expert knowledge, the parliament may delegate to the Ministers, the powers to make laws or the issue, so to be able to achieve efficiency.

The civil service is a body of government employees who are responsible for implementing policies and programs. A key characteristic of the civil service is the merit system, which means that individuals are hired and promoted based on their qualifications, skills, and abilities, rather than their political connections or personal relationships. This helps to ensure that the civil service is staffed by competent and capable individuals who are able to carry out their duties in an impartial and professional manner.

The main organ of the defunct OAU (Organization of African Unity) was the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. This was the highest decision-making body of the organization, where leaders from all member states would meet to discuss and decide on matters of concern to the continent. The Assembly was responsible for setting the overall policy direction of the OAU and for making important decisions on issues such as peace and security, economic development, and regional integration. It was made up of the heads of state or government of all member states, and its decisions were binding on all members.

The Waziri in the Sokoto Caliphate performed functions similar to that of the Bashorun in Oyo Kingdom. The Waziri was the second in command to the Sultan and served as the head of the administration and the judiciary in the Caliphate. The Bashorun in the Oyo Kingdom was also the head of the administration and the judiciary, serving as the Prime Minister to the Alaafin (king). The Galadima was the chief advisor to the Sultan in the Sokoto Caliphate, the Ma'aji was a military commander, and the Alkali was the head of the judiciary.

A human community that is usually cohesive and homogeneous is a Nation.

Burgess defined nation as a population with ethic unity. Leacook then described it as a body of people united by common descent and a common language. Finally, it should be realized that people that make up a nation share homogeneous characteristics.

The government exercises political power on behalf of the citizens. In a democratic system, the citizens elect representatives who form the government and are entrusted with the responsibility of governing the country in the best interest of the people. The government is expected to protect the rights and welfare of its citizens, maintain law and order, provide public goods and services, and make decisions for the betterment of the society as a whole. Therefore, the government's actions and policies should be in line with the needs and aspirations of the citizens.

In the process of implementing laws, the executive sometimes performs Judicial Functions.

1. The executive can grant prerogative of mercy to convicts, especially those that have overstayed or stayed reasonable part of their term in detention.

2. They executive also sets up judicial panels of inquiry outside the control of the ordinary courts of the land.

The first military coup in Nigeria toppled the government of Alhaji Abubakar Tafewa Balewa.

A country that operates a bicameral legislature has two separate houses or chambers that make up the legislative branch of government. One example of such a country is Nigeria, which has a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is considered the upper chamber and is made up of 109 members, while the House of Representatives is the lower chamber and is made up of 360 members. Both chambers are responsible for making laws and carrying out other legislative functions.

A characteristic of a fascist state is the existence of a zero-party system.

If party were to exist, it must be only one party and there must be no political opposition

A virile foreign policy is one that is characterized by a stable polity, buoyant economy, and visionary leadership. This means that a country with a virile foreign policy has a strong and stable political system, a growing and prosperous economy, and leaders who have a clear vision and are capable of making strategic decisions that advance the country's interests in the international system. A virile foreign policy is also characterized by diplomacy, constructive engagement, and the pursuit of mutually beneficial relationships with other countries, rather than propaganda, espionage, or economic embargoes. The presence of a vibrant press, public opinion, and civil society can also contribute to the strength of a country's foreign policy by providing a platform for open debate, feedback, and accountability.

A system of government that promotes the rights and freedom of the citizens is called democracy. In a democratic system, citizens have the right to participate in government through free and fair elections, freedom of speech and expression, the rule of law, and the protection of individual rights and liberties. The government is accountable to the people and is expected to act in their best interest.

The Berlin Conference formalized colonial penetration into Africa. It was held in Berlin, Germany in 1884-1885 and attended by the major European powers of the time. The conference aimed to regulate and coordinate European colonization and trade in Africa by establishing rules and guidelines for claiming territories, thus paving the way for the "Scramble for Africa." The conference effectively partitioned the continent of Africa among European powers without regard for existing African political boundaries or ethnic groups.

The key characteristic of the civil service is the merit system. This means that recruitment, promotion, and other employment decisions are made based on qualifications, competence, and performance rather than factors such as ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation. The merit system is intended to ensure that the most qualified and capable individuals are selected for civil service positions, leading to a more efficient and effective public administration. It also promotes professionalism and integrity in the civil service, as civil servants are expected to uphold high ethical standards in their work.

The right that enables citizens to express their electoral preferences is suffrage. Suffrage refers to the right to vote in political elections. It allows citizens to participate in the democratic process by selecting their representatives and expressing their preferences on public policies and governance. The term 'suffrage' is often used interchangeably with 'the franchise.'

The officer in charge of the administration of the palace in the Yoruba political structure is called the "iwarefa". The iwarefa is responsible for managing the affairs of the palace, including the scheduling of events, the maintenance of the palace grounds, and the management of staff. The iwarefa is also responsible for ensuring that the traditional customs and protocols of the Yoruba people are observed within the palace. In summary, the iwarefa is an important figure in the Yoruba political structure, as they play a crucial role in the day-to-day administration of the palace.

Nigeria hosted the Commonwealth conference which eventually led to the independence of Zimbabwe.

When Nigeria was plunging very deep into political crises, the Nigerian Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa preferred to focus all attention on the Rhodesian crisis. The country actually hosted a Commonwealth meeting on the Rhodesian question till the 15th of January, 1966.

The option A-4 voting system was introduced into the political process in Nigeria during the Third Republic.

It was introduced by the then Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (N.E.C), Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

Her ability to contribute to peace keeping missions justifies the Afro-centric foreign policy of Nigeria.

was highly committed to peaceful settlement of political crises and inter state disputes.

She played very prominent role in the settlement of political crises in Liberia and Sierra Leone through the formation of ECOMOG.

Ethnic politics in Nigeria can be traced to the Richard's Constitution. The Richard's Constitution of 1946 was a colonial document that introduced regionalism in Nigeria, dividing the country into three regions: Northern, Eastern, and Western regions. This division was largely based on ethnic and religious differences, and it allowed ethnic groups to have more power in their own regions. This constitution set the foundation for ethnic politics in Nigeria as it gave rise to ethnic-based political parties and struggles for power among the regions.

In the First Republic of Nigeria, the adjudication of conflicts between the federal and regional governments was reserved for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and has the power to interpret the constitution and settle disputes between different levels of government. Its decisions are final and binding on all parties involved.

In the presidential system of government, the leader is basically the head of the government. This means that the President is the chief executive of the government and is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws and policies of the country. The President is also responsible for appointing and overseeing members of the executive branch of government, which includes departments such as education, health, finance, and transportation. While the judiciary and military are important institutions in a presidential system, the President's primary role is to lead the government and make decisions on behalf of the country.

An economic system that encourages even distribution of wealth in the society is socialism. In a socialist system, the government owns and controls the major means of production and distribution, and the wealth generated is shared equally among all members of the society. This is in contrast to capitalism, where the means of production are privately owned and the distribution of wealth is determined by market forces.

Problems arising from population census in Nigeria are mainly caused by unreliable census figures, which are mainly caused by political manipulation of the elites.

For instance, when the result of 1962 census was published, the then census Commissioner, Mr.T. Warren criticized the figure as unrealistic Consequently, the then Minister for Economic Development, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, cancelled the census. Another was then conducted in November 1963. The figures returned again showed that Northern Region had 29.8 million Eastern 12.4 million, Western Region 10.3 million and the mid West 2.5 million while Lagos had 675,352 people. The figure showed on overall increase of 74%.

The East and the Mid-West rejected the figures from the North and the West. the Northern and Western Regional Premiers, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Chief S.L. Akintola threatened fire. The students of the University of Nigeria. Nsukka (UNN) protested against the figures. Serious controversy was generated over the census figures.

Finally the Prime Minister, Sir Alhaji Abukakar Tafawa Balewa nepotically accepted the figures and used them in National Economic Planning.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a group of countries that produce and export oil, formed with the aim of coordinating and unifying the petroleum policies of its members. OPEC was officially established at a conference held in Baghdad, Iraq, in September 1960, by the founding members - Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Therefore, the correct answer is Baghdad.

Equality before the law is a component of the rule of law. The rule of law is a principle that states that everyone, including the government, is subject to the law and must obey it. It ensures that the law is applied equally to all individuals and that no one is above the law. Equality before the law means that all individuals, regardless of their social or economic status, are treated equally under the law. This principle is essential for maintaining a fair and just society where everyone is held accountable for their actions.

The United Nations (UN) has carried out peacekeeping operations in various countries around the world. One of the options in the question lists three countries - Cyprus, Somalia, and Yugoslavia - where the UN has carried out peacekeeping operations. Therefore, the correct answer is "Cyprus, Somalia, and Yugoslavia."

Citizenship of a country can be acquired by an alien through naturalization. Naturalization is a legal process through which a non-citizen of a country can become a citizen. The process usually involves meeting certain requirements such as residency, language proficiency, passing a citizenship test, and taking an oath of allegiance to the country. After completing the requirements, the individual may be granted citizenship, allowing them to enjoy the full rights and privileges of a citizen of that country, including the right to vote, hold public office, and work without restrictions.

In a monarchical system of government, sovereignty is vested in the royalty or monarch. This means that the monarch has absolute power and authority to rule over the people and make decisions on their behalf. The monarch is considered the head of state and is responsible for maintaining law and order, protecting the rights of the people, and ensuring the prosperity of the nation. The people are subject to the monarch's authority and are expected to obey his or her laws and commands. The monarchy is usually hereditary, meaning that the position is passed down through the royal family.

Jamaica is not a member of the Commonwealth that was not colonized by Britain. Jamaica was a British colony until it gained independence in 1962. Malaysia, Uganda, and Mozambique are all members of the Commonwealth, but they were all colonized by Britain at some point in their history. To summarize, Jamaica was a British colony and therefore was colonized by Britain, while Malaysia, Uganda, and Mozambique are members of the Commonwealth but were all colonized by Britain.

The arm of government mainly responsible for the implementing of law in Nigeria is the executive. The executive arm of government is responsible for implementing laws passed by the legislature. It is made up of the President, Vice President, and other members of the executive council, who are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the country. The police, judiciary, and legislature are all separate branches of government with different roles and responsibilities. The police are responsible for maintaining law and order, while the judiciary is responsible for interpreting the law and dispensing justice. The legislature is responsible for making laws for the country.

A major shortcoming of the Lyttleton Constitution was that no provision was made for the office of the Prime Minister.

In spite of the fact that the Constitution established the post of Regional Premiers at the centre who might be called ''Prime Minister''. The principal instrument of policy still remained the Council of Ministers presided over by the Governor-General.

The 1989 Nigerian Constitution provided for a multi-party system. A multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties exist and have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coalition. This type of system allows for competition among different parties and provides voters with a wider range of options to choose from during elections. In contrast, a one-party system allows only one political party to exist and control the government, while a zero-party system has no political parties at all. Finally, a two-party system is a type of multi-party system where only two major political parties have a realistic chance of winning elections.