WAEC Government 1991 (August) past questions and answers

The term government, refers to all the following except

1. A.an academic field of study.
2. B.a process or art of governing.
3. C.a process of making and enforcing laws in a state.
4. D.an institution of the state for achieving the will of the state.
5. E.an institution made up of persons with common interest.

The political arrangement which emphasizes community feeling and togetherness is called

1. A.socialism.
2. B.communalism.
3. C.constitutionalism.
4. D.communism.
5. E.nationalism.

Who among the following was not a founding father of the Nigerian Youth Movement?

1. A.J.C. Vaughan
2. B.Samuel Akinsanya
3. C.Nnamdi Azikiwe
4. D.Ernest Okoli
5. E.H. O. Davies

The lack of interest in politics by many citizens in the country is referred to as

1. A.mass apathy.
2. B.Political unrest.
3. C.disenfranchisement.
4. D.civil disobedience.
5. E.mass protest.

When a pressure group is made up of people of the same profession, it is called

1. A.a promotional group.
2. B.an occupational group.
3. C.an interest group.
4. D.a religious group.
5. E.an associational group.

Which of the following best describes public opinion?

1. A.Opinion of the elites
2. B.Opinion of the ruling party
3. C.Political views of important groups
4. D.Important political views of large segment of the population
5. E.Important political views of members of the opposition party

Which of the following does not affect delimitation of constituencies?

1. A.Population density
2. B.Geographical expanse
3. C.Accessibility
4. D.Availability of officials
5. E.Gerrymandering

The major factor underlying the first military coup in Nigeria was

1. A.economic depression.
2. B.power drunkenness of leaders.
3. C.breakdown of law and order.
4. D.public opinion.
5. E.bribery and corruption.

The Public Complaints Commission helps to promote all the following except

1. A.democracy.
2. B.the rule of law.
3. C.military dictatorship.
4. D.justice.
5. E.fundamental human rights.

The Legislative Council under the 1946 constitution in Nigeria has a total of

1. A.40 members.
2. B.45 members.
3. C.48 members.
4. D.50 members.
5. E.55 members.

The Jumiyya Mutanem Arewa cultural group later developed into the

1. A.Northern Elements Progressive Union.
2. B.Northern People's Congress.
3. C.United Middle Belt Congress.
4. D.Nigeria National Democratic Party.
5. E.Jamiyya People's Party.

The founder and editor of the West African Pilot was

1. A.Herbert Macaulay.
2. B.Enrest Okoli
3. C.Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
4. D.Nnamdi Azikiwe.
5. E.Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Article 3 of the North Atlantic Charter of 1941 recognized the

1. A.rule of law.
2. B.fundamental rights of man.
3. C.rights and duties of citizens.
4. D.rights of the people to choose their own form of government.
5. E.rights of man to own private properties.

Which of the following was not a result of nationalist activities in West Africa?

1. A.Development of many political parties
2. B.Rapid political and constitutional development
3. C.Gradual movement towards independence
4. D.Development in education

African members of the Commonwealth of Nations include all the following nations group except

1. A.Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, The Gambia.
2. B.Kenya, Zambia, The Gambia, Malawi, Tanzania.
3. C.Nigeria, Kenya, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana.
4. D.Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana.
5. E.Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia.

Which of the following organs of the OAU approves the organization's annual budget? The

1. A.Secretariat
2. B.Council of Ministers
3. C.Assembly of Heads of State and Government
4. D.Economic and Social Commission
5. E.Liberation Committee

The ten non-permanent members of the UN Security Council are elected by

1. A.a two-third majority of the General Assembly for a period of two years.
2. B.a simple majority of the General Assembly for a period of two years.
3. C.a two-third majority of the General Assembly for a period of one year.
4. D.a simple majority of the General Assembly for a period of one year.
5. E.the Security Council and the General Assembly.

The Secretary-General of the UN occupies a peculiar position because he is

1. A.the secretary to all organs of the UN.
2. B.appointed by General Assembly.
3. C.a member of the Security Council.
4. D.responsible to the UN and not to individual government.
5. E.assisted by several other secretarial staff.

Which of the following is not a specialized agency of the United Nations Organization?

1. A.Food and Agriculture Organization
2. B.International Monetary Fund
3. C.World Health Organization
4. D.Economic and Social Council
5. E.International Labour Organization

The mechanism used to limit a parliamentary debate is known as

1. A.guillotine.
2. B.prerogative.
3. C.abrogation
4. D.adjournment.
5. E.dissolution.

In the pre-colonial political system of the Yoruba, the traditional ruler had

1. A.legislative and executive powers
2. B.legislative and judicial powers.
3. C.executive power only.
4. D.legislative, executive and judicial powers.
5. E.law making powers only.

The equivalent of the modern-day prime minister under the Hausa-Fulani pre-colonial system was the

1. A.Alkali.
2. B.Waziri.
3. C.Dogari.
4. D.Galadima.
5. E.Madawaki.

The pre-colonial political organization described as acephalous was the

1. A.Hausa-Fulani emirate system.
2. B.Igbo political organization.
3. C.Yoruba political organisation.
4. D.pre-colonial Bini system.
5. E.pre-colonial Ashanti system.

The Aba riot of 1929 was a direct consequence of the

1. A.attempt to introduce taxation.
2. B.introduction of Western education.
3. C.attempt to make women pay taxes.
4. D.British religious intolerance.
5. E.imposition of warrant chiefs on the Aba people.

Which of the following is not a problem of civil service?

1. A.Red- tapism
2. B.Over-devotion to precedence
3. C.improper keeping of records
4. D.Poor attitude to government work
5. E.Advising political leaders

By the 1979 constitution, the president has all the following powers except

1. A.signing of bills into law.
2. B.control of the civil service.
3. C.preparation and presentation of annual budget.
4. D.swearing in of a new president
5. E.proclamation of a state of emergency.

Parliamentary supremacy implies all the following except that

1. A.there is no legal limitation to the authority of parliament.
2. B.the sole right of law making belongs to parliament.
3. C.parliament can extend its own life.
4. D.only parliament can legislate on public funds.
5. E.the power of parliament is over and above all other powers, even that of the people.

One of the pioneering figures in the pan-African movement was

1. A.Dr. W.E.B Du-Bois.
2. B.Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
3. C.Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.
4. D.Siaka Stevens.
5. E.Herbert Macaulay.

Nigeria was formally divided into three regions under the constitution of

1. A.1922.
2. B.1946.
3. C.1951.
4. D.1954.
5. E.1560.

The problem of the minority groups in Nigeria was first raised in the

1. A.1953/54 constitutional conferences
2. B.1957/58 constitutional conferences.
3. C.1960 constitution.
4. D.1963 constitution.
5. E.1979 constitution.

Under which constitution was a bicameral legislature introduced into the Northern Region of Nigeria?

1. A.1922 constitution
2. B.1946 constitution
3. C.1951 constitution
4. D.1954 constitution
5. E.1960 constitution

Which of the following does not belong to the exclusive legislative list under the 1960 constitution?

1. A.Secondary Education
2. B.Mining
3. C.Defence
4. D.Banking
5. E.Telecommunication

The background work for the 1979 constitution started with the

1. A.establishment of the constitution Drafting Committee in 1975.
2. B.institution of a 49-member committee in 1976.
3. C.publication of the report on the constitution in 1976 by Rotimi Williams.
4. D.appointment of 230 constituent assembly members in 1976.
5. E.promulgation of the constitution in 1979.

In a one-party state

1. A.only one party is recognized officially and there is no legal opposition.
2. B.only one political party wins elections all the time.
3. C.two or more parties join together after a general election.
4. D.the government has power to disband other political parties.
5. E.only one party meets the required conditions of election.

All the following are sources of revenue to local government except

1. A.rate.
2. B.motor park and market fees.
3. C.duties on exportation of local products.
4. D.court fines and fees
5. E.grants.

The three basic fundamental rights of citizens are

1. A.salvation, property and freedom of thought.
2. B.life, liberty and property.
3. C.free movement, free education and free health care.
4. D.freedom of movement, speech and religion.
5. E.right to employment, education and property.

Under a presidential system of government, the chief executive is accountable to the

1. A.Legislature.
2. B.Executive.
3. C.Judiciary.
4. D.Senate.
5. E.Electorate.

Which of the following is not a function of the police?

1. A.Enacting laws
2. B.Controlling traffic
3. C.Protecting public places
4. D.Arresting criminals
5. E.Prosecuting criminals in law court

The origin of democracy is associated with the

1. A.Romans.
2. B.Greeks.
3. C.Babylonians.
4. D.Egyptians.
5. E.Persians.

A country that has experienced incessant military interregnum is said to have fallen into the

1. A.military trap.
2. B.coup d'etat trap.
3. C.praetorian trap.
4. D.palace-coup trap.
5. E.Armed Forces trap.

The successor of Margaret Thatcher as the British Prime Minister is

1. A.Geoffrey Howe.
2. B.John Major.
3. C.Ian Smith.
4. D.Prince. Charles.
5. E.Queen Elizabeth.

Military government usually lacks political

1. A.authority
2. B.power
3. C.legitimacy
4. D.sovereignty
5. E.representation.

On which of the following was the Hausa/Fulani political system based before the introduction of Indirect Rule?

1. A.Communism
2. B.Fascism
3. C.Totalitarianism
4. D.Feudalism
5. E.Anarchism

Political participation in Nigeria is limited by all the following except

1. A.decree.
2. B.voter's register.
3. C.religion.
4. D.residence.
5. E.age.

A quasi-federal constitution will produce

1. A.a strong central government.
2. B.strong component government
3. C.a strong unitary government.
4. D.a strong confederal government.
5. E.strong local government.

An elected politician represents all the following except

1. A.his constituency
2. B.the electorate
3. C.the government
4. D.his political party
5. E.his community.

Which of the following best describes the system of government in Nigeria between 1922 and 1953?

1. A.Confederal
2. B.Federal
3. C.Republican
4. D.Military
5. E.Unitary.

Centralization of power is a basic feature of a

1. A.federal government.
2. B.unitary government.
3. C.presidential government.
4. D.parliamentary government.
5. E.confederal government.

The transfer of political power to local authorities by the central government is known as

1. A.devolution of power.
2. B.devolution of political posts.
3. C.deconcentration of legislative powers.
4. D.decentralization of government business.
5. E.decentralization of politics.

Parliamentary government is different from presidential government because

1. A.it has a flexible constitution
2. B.it is based on a unitary constitution.
3. C.of the existence of Head of Government.
4. D.of the supremacy of the constitution.
5. E.of the existence of a ceremonial Head of State.

One can identify a rigid constitution by its

1. A.amendment procedure.
2. B.length.
3. C.nature and scope.
4. D.salient provisions.
5. E.sources.

The highest court of any state judiciary in Nigeria under the 1979 constitution is the

1. A.Supreme Court.
2. B.Sharia Court of Appeal.
3. C.High Court.
4. D.Magistrate Court.
5. E.Customary Court of Appeal.

Which of the following is not common to both political parties and pressure groups in post- independence Nigeria?

1. A.constitutional provisions
2. B.threat of proscriptions by the government
3. C.arrest and detention of members
4. D.election/selection of leaders
5. E.harassment by the military government.

The electoral officer charged with the responsibility of announcing election results is the

1. A.Resident Electoral Commissioner.
2. B.Returning Officer.
3. C.Supervisory Presiding Officer.
4. D.Presiding Officer.
5. E.Accounting Officer.

The power of a state government to make policies, issue orders and spend public funds is an attribute of its

1. A.administrative authority.
2. B.political authority.
3. C.charismatic authority.
4. D.traditional authority.
5. E.judiciary authority.

During the early colonial period in Nigeria, the governor ruled the protectorate by

1. A.Crown Colony Orders.
2. B.Proclamation.
3. C.Decree.
4. D.Order-in Council.
5. E.The Act of Parliament.

Who was the Nigerian diplomat elected president of United Nations General Assembly?

1. A.Professor Ibrahim Gambari
2. B.Professor Adebayo Adedeji
3. C.Alhaji Maitama Sule
4. D.General Joseph Garba
5. E.Chief Simeon Adebo

Which of the following ideals has not been violated by any member of OAU?

1. A.Non-interference in the internal affairs of states
2. B.Respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each member state
3. C.Peaceful settlement of disputes by negotiation, conciliation or arbitration
4. D.Unreserved condemnation in all forms of political assassination and subversive activities on the part of neighbouring states
5. E.Dedication to the total emancipation of the African territories which are still under political subjugation.

Section A (answer two questions only from this section)
What is political participation? How does a citizen participate in politics?

Section A (answer two questions only from this section)
Discuss the different types of pressure groups. Illustrate with relevant examples.

Section A (answer two questions only from this section)
Why will the one-party system not be a good option for Nigeria?

Section A (answer two questions only from this section)
Describe the role of the cabinet in government.

Section A (answer two questions only from this section)
State the characteristic features of the cabinet system that distinguish it from presidential system.

Section B (answer two questions only from this section)
What were the factors that necessitated the adoption of federal system of government in Nigeria?

Section B (answer two questions only from this section)
Discuss any five major crises that led to the Nigerian civil war

Section B (answer two questions only from this section)
Highlight the demands of nationalist movements in British West Africa in the 1920s

Section B (answer two questions only from this section)
Account for the frequent military coups in Nigeria.

Section B (answer two questions only from this section)
What has been the role of Nigeria as a member of the United Nations Organization?