WAEC SSCE - Government - 2000 (Essay)

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The 1963 Republican Constitution and the 1979 Constitution of Nigeria may be distinguished as follows:

(Any relevant contrasting points are acceptable.)

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In a presidential system the President is both Head of State and Head of Government. As Head of Government he performs the following functions:

1. Chief executive: He directs and controls the execution and enforcement of the laws of the state.
2. Formation of the cabinet: He appoints ministers and other principal officers and assigns portfolios to them.
3. Determination of policy: He formulates and directs the general policy of the government at home and abroad.
4. Commander-in-Chief: He is the head of the armed forces and is responsible for the defence and security of the nation.
5. Conduct of foreign affairs: He appoints and receives ambassadors, negotiates treaties and represents the country in international matters.
6. Assent to bills: He signs bills passed by the legislature into law and may veto bills he does not approve.
7. Prerogative of mercy: He grants pardon, reprieve or commutation of sentence to convicted persons.
8. Preparation of the budget: He presents the annual budget and appropriation proposals to the legislature.
9. Appointments: He appoints judges, ambassadors and heads of parastatals, often subject to legislative confirmation.

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Indirect Rule worked fairly well in Northern Nigeria but was largely unsuccessful in the Eastern and parts of the Western regions for the following reasons:

1. Absence of centralised authority: The Igbo of the East and some Western communities had no powerful emirs or paramount chiefs; they practised a decentralised, republican form of government, so there was no ready-made traditional ruler to rule through.
2. Imposition of warrant chiefs: Where no chiefs existed the British appointed warrant chiefs who lacked traditional legitimacy; the people regarded them as strangers and resented their authority.
3. Abuse of power by warrant chiefs: Many warrant chiefs became corrupt and oppressive, extorting the people and provoking resistance such as the Aba Women's Riot of 1929.
4. Educated elite opposition: The more Westernised South produced educated nationalists who rejected the autocratic and undemocratic character of the system.
5. Cultural and political differences: The democratic, consultative traditions of the South were incompatible with the autocratic style on which Indirect Rule depended.
6. Ignorance of local customs: British officers did not fully understand the political institutions of the South, so their arrangements did not fit the people.

(Any relevant points are acceptable.)

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The civil service differs from the public corporations in the following five ways:

(Any five contrasting points are acceptable.)

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Election is necessary in a democratic state for the following reasons:

1. Choice of leaders: It provides the machinery through which the people select their representatives and rulers.
2. Popular participation: It enables citizens to take part in the governance of their country by exercising their right to vote.
3. Legitimacy: A government that emerges through free and fair elections enjoys the consent and support of the governed, giving it the authority to rule.
4. Change of government: It offers a peaceful and orderly means of changing or retaining a government without resort to violence.
5. Accountability: The fear of losing the next election compels leaders to be responsible and responsive to the wishes of the electorate.
6. Political education: Election campaigns enlighten the people on issues, policies and the workings of government.
7. Expression of public opinion: It allows the people to pass judgement on the performance of the government and approve or reject its programmes.
8. Representation: It ensures that the different interests and sections of the society are represented in government.

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The evolution of federalism in Nigeria between 1914 and 1954 may be traced through the following stages:

1. 1914 Amalgamation: Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates into one Nigeria. Although the country was formally united, the two parts were administered largely separately, sowing the earliest seed of regionalism.
2. 1922 Clifford Constitution: It introduced the elective principle and a Legislative Council for the South only; the North was still governed by proclamation, deepening the North-South divide.
3. 1946 Richards Constitution: This is regarded as the foundation of Nigerian federalism. It divided the country into three regions (Northern, Western and Eastern) and created Regional Houses of Assembly, though real power remained at the centre.
4. 1951 Macpherson Constitution: It increased regional autonomy by giving the regions their own legislatures and executive councils with law-making powers, moving the country closer to a federation, though it retained a strong quasi-unitary centre.
5. 1954 Lyttleton Constitution: This established Nigeria formally as a federation. Powers were shared between the central and regional governments through exclusive, concurrent and residual lists; the regions became self-governing in many respects. This marked the true beginning of federalism in Nigeria.

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The colonial Governor was the chief representative of the British Crown in each West African colony. His functions included the following:

1. Chief executive: He was the head of the colonial administration and was responsible for the general government of the territory.
2. Representative of the Crown: He represented the British monarch and government and carried out imperial policy in the colony.
3. Law-making: He presided over the Legislative Council and could initiate, assent to or veto laws (ordinances); he could also legislate by proclamation.
4. Appointments: He appointed and controlled senior colonial officials and nominated members into the Legislative and Executive Councils.
5. Maintenance of law and order: He was responsible for internal security and controlled the police and armed forces in the colony.
6. Financial control: He supervised the preparation and execution of the colonial budget and controlled public revenue and expenditure.
7. Prerogative of mercy: He could pardon, reprieve or commute the sentences of convicted persons.
8. Reserve and veto powers: He could override the councils and use his reserve powers in matters he considered vital to imperial interests.
9. Reporting: He reported regularly to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in London.

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The single (one) party system is a system in which only one political party is legally allowed to exist and contest for power. It is associated with the following problems:

1. Absence of opposition: There is no organised opposition to check the excesses of the ruling party, which encourages abuse of power.
2. Tendency towards dictatorship: With no rival party, leaders tend to become autocratic, intolerant and tyrannical.
3. Denial of choice: The electorate is deprived of the freedom to choose between alternative parties, candidates and programmes.
4. Suppression of fundamental rights: Freedoms of expression, association and the press are often curtailed to protect the ruling party.
5. Political stagnation: The absence of competition breeds complacency, corruption and inefficiency in government.
6. Personality cult: Power is often concentrated in one leader who is glorified beyond criticism.
7. Absence of accountability: Since the party cannot be voted out, the government is not truly answerable to the people.

(Any five of the above problems are acceptable.)

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The Organization of African Unity (OAU), founded in 1963, was guided by the following principles enshrined in its Charter:

1. Sovereign equality of all member states.
2. Non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.
3. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each state and its inalienable right to independent existence.
4. Peaceful settlement of disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation or arbitration.
5. Unreserved condemnation of political assassination and subversive activities directed against member states.
6. Absolute dedication to the total emancipation of African territories still under colonial or minority rule.
7. Affirmation of a policy of non-alignment with regard to all power blocs.

These principles were designed to promote unity, solidarity, cooperation and the liberation of the African continent.

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Political parties have contributed to the constitutional development of Nigeria in the following ways:

1. Agitation for constitutional reform: Parties such as the NNDP, NCNC, AG and NPC pressed the colonial government for successive constitutional changes and greater self-government.
2. Participation in constitutional conferences: Party leaders attended the London and Lagos conferences (1953, 1954, 1957, 1958) that produced the constitutions leading to independence.
3. Demand for federalism: The parties, reflecting regional interests, pushed for a federal structure, which was entrenched in the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution and later constitutions.
4. Struggle for independence: Through their nationalist activities they hastened the negotiations that culminated in the 1960 Independence Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution.
5. Provision of personnel: Parties produced the political leaders and legislators who operated the constitutions and manned the regional and central governments.
6. Political education: Parties enlightened the citizens on constitutional issues, rights and the workings of representative government.
7. Formation of governments: By contesting and winning elections they formed the governments that gave practical effect to each new constitution.

(Any five of the above are acceptable.)

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Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations derive the following benefits from the organisation:

1. Economic and technical assistance: Members benefit from schemes such as the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, trade preferences, loans and development aid.
2. Educational benefits: Members enjoy Commonwealth scholarships, staff and student exchange, and cooperation among Commonwealth universities.
3. Promotion of world peace and mutual understanding: Regular meetings such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) provide a forum for consultation, settlement of disputes and friendly cooperation.
4. Sports and cultural cooperation: Members participate in the Commonwealth Games and share cultural links that foster unity among peoples.
5. Political and diplomatic support: Members receive collective support on the world stage and assistance with democratic elections through observer missions.
6. Common services: Members share a common language, similar legal and administrative systems, and cooperation in health, agriculture and communications.

(Any four of the above are acceptable.)

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Merits of democracy

1. Popular participation: It allows the people to take part in government through voting and other means, giving legitimacy to the government.
2. Protection of rights and freedoms: It safeguards the fundamental human rights and liberties of citizens.
3. Accountability and change of government: Rulers are accountable to the people and can be peacefully removed through periodic elections.

Demerits of democracy

1. Slow decision-making: Wide consultation and debate make the process of taking decisions slow and cumbersome.
2. Rule by the ignorant majority: Decisions may be based on the votes of an uninformed majority rather than on merit or competence.
3. Expensive to operate: Conducting elections, running the legislature and maintaining democratic institutions consume enormous public funds.

(Other valid points such as tyranny of the majority, and equality before the law, are acceptable.)