GCE Government 1989 past questions and answers

Under the 1960 constitution the prerogative of mercy belonged to the Governor-General (head of state), not the Prime Minister.

Gowon replaced the four regions with 12 states in May 1967.

A bill becomes law only after it is debated (read, discussed and voted on) in the legislature.

Restricting the vote (by sex, property, etc.) denies some adults an equal say, which breaks the principle of political equality.

Freedom of conscience and religion is a right of the citizen, not a duty.

Judges are trained through law studies and legal practice, not through the study of Government.

The 1976 Local Government Reform under the Murtala/Obasanjo regime introduced a uniform single-tier local government system.

The 1960 constitution provided for rights, executive and legislative powers and the legislative lists, but did not regulate political parties.

A sound federation needs units of roughly balanced size; the North alone was larger than the other regions put together, so it could dominate.

Under the 1960 constitution the British monarch (represented by the Governor-General) was a ceremonial, constitutional head of state.

In May 1962 the federal government declared a state of emergency in the Western Region during the Action Group crisis.

Political culture is made up of attitudes, beliefs, emotions and values; age is not one of them.

In representative democracy the people choose representatives through free elections based on a proper voters' register.

The Fulani empire had two headquarters, Sokoto and Gwandu; their rulers confirmed or removed the emirs under them.

Taking the Ozo title required paying heavy fees and feasts, so only wealthy men could get it.

The Bashorun led the Oyomesi, the council of kingmakers.

Commonwealth countries exchange High Commissioners rather than ambassadors.

Nigeria refused relations with South Africa because of apartheid. After apartheid ended, the two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1994.

Socialism arose in reaction to the exploitation and inequality of industrial capitalism.

Military regimes suspend (or partly suspend) the constitution and rule by decrees.

Canada uses the parliamentary system. In 1989 Nigeria was under military rule and its 1979 constitution was presidential; the USA is presidential.

Foreign policy is the set of principles and goals that guide a state's dealings with other states.

A large population is a factor (a source of power) that may shape foreign policy, not an objective of it.

Civil servants work behind the scenes; ministers take public credit or blame for their department's work.

The UPGA boycott of the 1964 federal election was fully observed in the Eastern Region, where polling did not hold (it held in March 1965).

The NPN was a political party (1978–83); the rest are pressure groups.

The NYSC is a national service scheme, not a commercial public corporation.

'Political territory' is not a field of study; public administration, local government and international relations are branches of political science.

The 1963 constitution was drawn up by Nigerians and passed by the Nigerian parliament, not imposed by Britain.

Nigeria broke relations with France over its atomic tests in the Sahara (the break actually took place in January 1961, not 1963).

The four African states that recognised Biafra were Tanzania, Gabon, Ivory Coast and Zambia; Sierra Leone did not.

On concurrent matters, federal law overrides a conflicting regional (now state) law to the extent of the conflict.

Lagos hosted a special Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting on Rhodesia in January 1966.

Interpreting treaties and international law is the work of the International Court of Justice, not the Secretary-General.

Malawi under Banda was the only independent black African state to keep full diplomatic relations with apartheid South Africa. Today most African states have relations with South Africa.

Cameroun is in Central Africa and belongs to ECCAS, not ECOWAS.

Government is the machinery through which the will of the state is formed and carried out.
Makes laws for the state (legislature).
Enforces laws and keeps law and order (police, executive).
Defends the state's territory against external attack (armed forces).
Protects lives and property of citizens.
Settles disputes and administers justice (courts).
Provides social services: roads, water, health, education.
Manages the economy, revenue and development planning.
Conducts relations with other states (foreign policy).
Protects citizens' rights and freedoms.
Without government the state cannot exist or act.

Explain at least five functions and link each to the survival of the state.

Definition: a state in which governmental powers are shared by the constitution between a central government and component units (states/regions), each independent within its own sphere.
Problems: expensive to run (duplication of institutions); conflicts between the centre and units over powers; revenue allocation disputes; fear of domination of small units by large ones; secessionist tendencies; slow decision-making and poor coordination; uneven development among units; boundary and census disputes; rigid constitution difficult to amend; divided loyalty of citizens.

Define clearly, then explain five or more problems with Nigerian examples.

Growth of the welfare state: government now provides many services run by the executive.
Delegated legislation: the executive makes many rules under powers given by the legislature.
Emergency powers and national security needs.
Control of the bureaucracy and of expert information.
Initiation of bills and preparation of the budget by the executive.
Party discipline: a leader who controls the majority party controls the legislature.
Executive role in foreign affairs and defence.
Military rule, which fused executive and legislative power.
Administrative tribunals and the prerogative of mercy extend into judicial matters.
Mass media gives the head of government a direct link with the people.

Give reasons, each explained briefly.

History and political experience of the country.
Size of the country and its population.
Ethnic, religious and cultural diversity (need for federalism or protection of minorities).
Level of literacy and political awareness of the people.
Economic resources and level of development.
Wishes of the people (consultation, constituent assembly, referendum).
Protection of fundamental human rights.
Separation of powers and checks and balances.
Method of amendment (rigid or flexible).
International obligations and examples of other countries.

Explain at least five factors.

Fear of punishment (sanctions by police and courts).
Legitimacy: they accept that the government has a right to rule.
Habit and custom.
Self-interest: laws protect their lives and property.
Moral and religious beliefs.
Political socialisation from family, school and religion.
Patriotism and a sense of civic duty.
Consent: laws are made by their elected representatives.
Reason: laws are seen to be fair and for the common good.

Explain five or more reasons.

Assimilation: aimed to make Africans into Frenchmen in culture, language, religion and law.
Assimilated Africans (évolués) became French citizens, could vote and send deputies to the French parliament (e.g. the Four Communes of Senegal).
French language and education were used; African culture was looked down on; direct rule through French officials.
It was abandoned because it was costly, Africans resisted it, only a few qualified, and the French feared being outnumbered by African citizens.
Association (adopted from about 1905): Africans were allowed to keep their culture but were ruled for French economic interest.
Colonies were administered as part of French West Africa under a Governor-General in Dakar; chiefs were mere agents of French officials.
Features included forced labour and the indigénat (summary punishment of 'subjects').

Treat each policy separately and say why one replaced the other.

Any one party.
AG: grew from the cultural group Egbe Omo Oduduwa; formed 1951 under Obafemi Awolowo; based in the Western Region; won the 1951 Western elections and governed the West; programme of free primary education and welfarism (democratic socialism); opposition party in the federal parliament after 1959; split in the 1962 crisis (Akintola formed UPP/NNDP); treason trial of Awolowo; banned by the military in 1966.
NCNC: formed August 1944 by Herbert Macaulay and Nnamdi Azikiwe from many unions; first nation-wide party; opposed the Richards Constitution (1946 delegation to London); renamed National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (1960/61) after Southern Cameroons left; governed the East and later the Mid-West; coalition partner of the NPC in the federal government 1959–64; joined UPGA in 1964; banned 1966.
NPC: grew from the cultural Jamiyyar Mutanen Arewa; became a party in 1951 under Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto); motto 'One North, One People'; ruled the North; largest party in the federal parliament and led federal governments 1959–66 with Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister; banned 1966.

Origin, leaders, aims, achievements and end of the party.

Served as the main agents of indirect rule, ruling their people for the British.
Collected taxes for the Native Treasury.
Maintained law and order through the native police.
Presided over native courts and settled disputes by customary law.
Communicated British policies and orders to the people.
Recruited labour for public works and soldiers during the World Wars.
Some were nominated to the Legislative Council and later to the Houses of Chiefs (1946/1951).
Warrant chiefs were created in the East where no chiefs existed.
Advised the British administrators on local customs.

Explain each role with examples.

Introduced the elective principle: four elected members of the Legislative Council (three for Lagos, one for Calabar).
Led to the formation of the first political party, the NNDP (1923), and the start of party politics.
Led to the first elections in Nigeria and the establishment of newspapers for political ends.
Created a new Legislative Council of 46 members with a majority of officials.
Set up an Executive Council of officials.
The Legislative Council made laws for the Colony and Southern Provinces (the North was ruled by proclamation of the Governor).
Stimulated nationalism and political awareness.
Lasted until 1946, longer than any other colonial constitution.

Focus on why it was important, not only its features.

Political crisis and violence after the 1964 federal election and the 1965 Western Regional election ('Operation Wetie').
Election rigging and disputes; loss of legitimacy of the government.
Corruption, nepotism and misuse of public funds by politicians.
Breakdown of law and order in the Western Region.
Census crisis of 1962–63.
Fear of Northern domination and ethnic tension.
Tiv riots and the Action Group crisis (1962).
Ambition of some army officers and the example of coups elsewhere in Africa.
The 15 January 1966 coup led by young majors; power handed to Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Explain the causes; a short note on the coup itself is enough.