WAEC SSCE - Civic Education - 2019 (Essay)

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(a) Definition of civil society

A civil society is a group of citizens or voluntary organisations, separate from the government and formed to promote the interest, welfare and rights of the people, and to hold the government accountable. Examples include the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), human rights groups and community-based associations.

(b) Six impediments to the effectiveness of civil societies in Nigeria

1. Inadequate funding: Many civil society groups lack the financial resources needed to carry out their activities effectively.
2. Government interference and intimidation: Government sometimes harasses, arrests or suppresses activists, limiting their operations.
3. Corruption within the groups: Some leaders of civil society organisations are corrupt and can be compromised or bribed by government.
4. Ethnic and religious differences: Divisions along tribal and religious lines weaken unity and the collective voice of these groups.
5. Illiteracy and ignorance: A large section of the population is unaware of the roles of civil societies and therefore does not support them.
6. Poor leadership and internal disunity: Personality clashes, rivalry and lack of continuity in leadership reduce their effectiveness.

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(a) Explanation of HIV/AIDS

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that attacks and gradually destroys the white blood cells (specifically the CD4 cells) of the human immune system, which are the body's natural defence against diseases. Once a person is infected, the virus multiplies and progressively weakens the immune system.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the advanced or final stage of HIV infection. At this stage the immune system has been so weakened that the body can no longer fight off ordinary infections and diseases, and the person becomes vulnerable to a range of opportunistic infections. HIV is transmitted mainly through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person, transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of unsterilised sharp objects such as needles, blades and syringes, and from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. AIDS currently has no cure, but it can be managed with antiretroviral drugs.

(b) Nine symptoms of AIDS

1. Rapid and drastic loss of body weight.
2. Persistent fever that lasts for weeks.
3. Chronic diarrhoea lasting more than a month.
4. Prolonged dry cough and difficulty in breathing.
5. Continuous night sweats.
6. General body weakness and constant fatigue.
7. Swelling of the lymph glands in the neck, armpit and groin.
8. Skin rashes, sores and persistent itching.
9. Recurrent infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and oral thrush.

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The figure is the classical statue of Lady Justice (Justitia). The diagram labels three symbols she carries: the blindfold over her eyes, the scale (balance) held up in one hand, and the sword held down in the other hand.

(a) Meaning of justice

Justice is the principle of fairness by which every person is given what is rightly due to them, and by which rights are protected, wrongs are punished, and disputes are settled impartially according to law. It is the quality of being fair and reasonable in the treatment of people, ensuring that equals are treated equally and that no one is placed above the law.

Other acceptable senses of the term include:

• Legal justice: the fair and correct administration of the law by the courts, so that the guilty are punished and the innocent are protected.
• Social justice: the fair distribution of wealth, opportunities, rights and privileges among all members of society.
• Natural justice: the moral rules of fair hearing, such as that no one should be a judge in their own case and that both sides must be heard before a decision is taken.

(b) What the scale, sword and blindfold stand for

Taken together, the three symbols teach that true justice must be fair (scale), impartial (blindfold), and backed by the power to enforce its decisions (sword).

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Roles of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in curbing accidents in Nigeria

The Federal Road Safety Corps is the agency established to promote road safety and reduce road traffic crashes on Nigerian roads. Its roles include the following:

1. Public enlightenment and road safety education: The FRSC teaches motorists and other road users, through campaigns, seminars and the media, about safe driving habits, traffic rules and the dangers of reckless driving, thereby reducing avoidable accidents.
2. Enforcement of traffic laws and regulations: It arrests and prosecutes traffic offenders such as those who over-speed, drive against traffic, use phones while driving or drive without valid documents, thereby discouraging dangerous conduct on the roads.
3. Control and management of traffic: Its officers regulate the movement of vehicles, clear obstructions, control traffic at busy junctions and during emergencies, and ease congestion so that traffic flows smoothly and safely.
4. Rescue operations and prompt attention to crash victims: The FRSC provides ambulance services and first aid, and quickly evacuates victims of road crashes to hospitals, reducing deaths and the severity of injuries.
5. Inspection of vehicles and enforcement of vehicle standards: It checks vehicles for roadworthiness, ensures that tyres, brakes, lights and safety devices (such as seat belts) are in good condition, and removes unsafe vehicles from the roads.
6. Issuance and control of drivers' licences and number plates: It ensures that only qualified and tested drivers are licensed to drive and keeps a proper register of vehicles and drivers, which improves discipline on the roads.
7. Removal of broken-down vehicles and obstacles from the road: It clears accident scenes and stalled vehicles promptly to prevent secondary crashes and keep the road safe.
8. Installation of road signs and safety markings: It places and maintains road signs, warnings and markings that guide and caution road users, helping to prevent accidents.

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Hardships that victims of human trafficking may experience in the hands of human traffickers

Human trafficking is the illegal recruitment, transportation and exploitation of persons, usually for forced labour, prostitution or other forms of abuse. Victims commonly suffer the following hardships:

1. Forced labour and slavery: Victims are made to work long hours under harsh conditions without pay or with very little pay, and are treated like slaves.
2. Forced prostitution and sexual exploitation: Many victims, especially girls and women, are forced into prostitution and are sexually abused and raped repeatedly.
3. Physical abuse and torture: Victims are beaten, brutalised, starved, chained or otherwise physically maltreated to keep them under control.
4. Denial of freedom (imprisonment): Victims are locked up, their movement is restricted and their travel documents are seized, so that they cannot escape or return home.
5. Poor feeding, shelter and health care: They are given little or bad food, kept in dirty and overcrowded places, and denied medical attention when sick.
6. Psychological and emotional trauma: Victims suffer fear, threats, intimidation, depression, loneliness and lasting mental and emotional injury.
7. Exposure to dangerous diseases: Through forced sex and unhygienic conditions they are exposed to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted and infectious diseases.
8. Deprivation of education and a normal life: Children and young persons are denied schooling, a family life and the chance to develop, and may even lose their lives in the process.

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Behaviours associated with drug addiction

Drug addiction is a condition in which a person becomes dependent on and unable to do without harmful drugs. A drug addict usually shows the following behaviours:

1. Restlessness and constant craving for the drug: The addict is always uneasy and anxious, and continually looks for the drug and cannot stay calm without it.
2. Aggression, violence and irritability: The addict is easily provoked, quarrelsome, quick-tempered and often behaves in a violent or hostile manner towards others.
3. Isolation and withdrawal from family and friends: The addict keeps away from normal company, prefers to be alone or with fellow addicts, and loses interest in family, friends and social activities.
4. Neglect of duties and responsibilities: The addict abandons school work, the job and other obligations, becomes truant, lazy and unreliable, and shows a general drop in performance.
5. Lying, stealing and other criminal tendencies: To get money for drugs the addict tells lies, steals, deceives people and may engage in other criminal acts.
6. Poor personal hygiene and untidy appearance: The addict becomes careless about grooming, dressing and cleanliness, and generally looks unkempt.
7. Mood swings and abnormal behaviour: The addict shows sudden changes of mood, laughs or cries without cause, hallucinates, talks to himself and behaves in strange, irrational ways.
8. Loss of appetite and disturbed sleep: The addict may eat poorly, lose weight, look sickly and either sleep excessively or suffer from sleeplessness.

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(a) Three features of the rule of law

1. Equality before the law: Every citizen, whether rich or poor, ruler or ruled, is subject to the same laws and enjoys equal treatment before the courts.
2. Supremacy of the law: The law is above every person and institution; no one, including the government, is above the law, and government actions must be based on the law.
3. Fundamental human rights (impartial and fair hearing): The rights of citizens are guaranteed and protected, and every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a fair and impartial court.

(b) Four hindrances to the application of the rule of law in society

1. Immunity clause: Certain public office holders such as the President and Governors enjoy immunity from prosecution while in office, which undermines equality before the law.
2. State of emergency: During emergencies, certain rights and freedoms may be suspended, limiting the full operation of the rule of law.
3. Corruption and bribery: Corrupt judicial officers and law enforcement agents can pervert the course of justice in favour of the highest bidder.
4. Undue government interference: Interference of the executive in the affairs of the judiciary and delay in the administration of justice weakens the independence of the courts.

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(a) Meaning of political apathy

Political apathy refers to the lack of interest, indifference or unwillingness of citizens to participate in the political activities and processes of their country, such as voting, joining political parties, contesting elections or attending political gatherings.

(b) Two dangers of political apathy to society

1. It leads to the emergence of bad or incompetent leaders, since credible citizens fail to participate and vote.
2. It weakens democracy and encourages electoral malpractices such as rigging and vote buying, because few people monitor the process.

(c) Four ways of addressing political apathy

1. Civic and voter education: Enlightening citizens on the importance of political participation and their civic rights and duties.
2. Free, fair and credible elections: Conducting transparent elections so that citizens see that their votes count.
3. Good governance: Leaders should deliver dividends of democracy to restore public confidence in the political system.
4. Provision of security during elections: Ensuring the safety of voters so that fear of violence does not discourage participation.

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(a) Significance of nationalism to the political development of Nigeria

1. It brought about political awareness: Nationalism awakened Nigerians to the injustice of colonial rule and made them conscious of their rights and their desire for self-government.
2. It led to the formation of political parties: The nationalist struggle produced parties such as the NCNC, the Action Group and the NPC, which mobilised the people and gave political life and organisation to the country.
3. It hastened the attainment of independence: The pressure, agitation and demands of the nationalists forced the British to grant Nigeria her independence in 1960.
4. It promoted constitutional development: Nationalist agitation led to a series of constitutions (Clifford, Richards, Macpherson, Lyttleton) that gradually widened Nigerian participation in government.
5. It fostered unity and national consciousness: It united people of different ethnic groups to fight a common cause, thereby laying a foundation for national identity and integration.
6. It produced experienced Nigerian leaders: The struggle threw up leaders who later took over the administration of the country.

(b) Nationalistic roles of Kwame Nkrumah

1. He led Ghana (the Gold Coast) to independence: As leader of the Convention People's Party (CPP), he spearheaded the struggle that made Ghana the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence in 1957.
2. He founded and led a mass political party: He formed the Convention People's Party and used it to mobilise the ordinary people through his slogan of "self-government now."
3. He championed Pan-Africanism and African unity: He was a leading advocate of the total liberation and unity of Africa and helped found the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963.
4. He used positive action and civil disobedience: He organised strikes, boycotts and peaceful protests to press the colonial authorities for self-rule.
5. He inspired other African nationalists: His success and writings encouraged nationalist movements in other African countries, including Nigeria, to intensify their own struggles for independence.