All 40 questions from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Government 2025 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
In a totalitarian state, which of the following is most accurate?
A. The government tolerates opposition
B. The government controls all aspects of lifeCorrect
C. The citizens enjoy freedom of speech
D. The judiciary is independent
Explanation
Correct answer: B. A totalitarian state seeks total control over every aspect of citizens' lives — political, economic, social, and even personal — leaving no room for opposition, free speech, or an independent judiciary. That is why options A, C, and D (which describe features of open, democratic systems) are wrong.
What type of political culture is characterized by a low level of political awareness and participation?
A. ParochialCorrect
B. Subject
C. Participatory
D. Cognitive
Explanation
Correct answer: A. Parochial political culture describes a society where people have almost no awareness of, or interest in, the wider political system — their outlook is limited to their immediate locality. 'Subject' culture (B) involves awareness but passive obedience; 'participatory' (C) involves active engagement; 'cognitive' (D) is not a recognised type in this classification.
Which agent of political socialization is the most influential in early childhood?
A. School
B. Peer groups
C. FamilyCorrect
D. Mass media
Explanation
Correct answer: C. The family is the first and most influential agent of political socialisation because it shapes a child's basic values, beliefs, and attitudes before school, peer groups, or the media have any influence.
Which of the following is a major challenge to the rule of law in Nigeria?
A. Separation of powers
B. Judicial independence
C. Executive interferenceCorrect
D. Constitutional supremacy
Explanation
Correct answer: C. Executive interference — the executive overriding or undermining the judiciary and legislature — is a major threat to the rule of law in Nigeria. The other options (separation of powers, judicial independence, constitutional supremacy) are actually supports for the rule of law, not challenges to it.
C. Private ownership of the means of productionCorrect
D. Centralized economic planning
Explanation
Correct answer: C. Capitalism is an economic system defined by private ownership and control of the means of production (land, factories, capital), with businesses run for private profit rather than by the state.
A major weakness of the presidential system is that it often leads to?
A. Executive dominanceCorrect
B. Weak leadership
C. Parliamentary control
D. Quick legislation
Explanation
Correct answer: A. Because the president is both head of state and head of government with wide executive powers, the presidential system often results in excessive concentration of power in one person — executive dominance.
The principle of local government autonomy means that local governments should?
A. Be controlled by the state governor
B. Make independent decisions without external interferenceCorrect
C. Seek approval from the federal government before executing projects
D. Be accountable only to traditional rulers
Explanation
Correct answer: B. Local government autonomy means that local councils can plan, decide, and carry out projects on their own initiative, without needing approval from, or being controlled by, the state or federal government.
Correct answer: C. Plutocracy comes from the Greek word 'ploutos' meaning wealth; it describes a system of government controlled by the rich, not by the majority, a dictator, or religious leaders.
The greatest danger of delegated legislation is that it may lead to?
A. Abuse of power by civil servantsCorrect
B. Efficiency in governance
C. Increased legislative workload
D. The independence of the judiciary
Explanation
Correct answer: A. Delegated legislation is when the legislature gives law-making powers to civil servants or executive agencies to handle technical details. Because this bypasses full parliamentary scrutiny, its greatest danger is that these officials may abuse the power given to them.
A rigid constitution is difficult to amend because?
A. It lacks flexibility
B. It requires a complex amendment procedureCorrect
C. It is subject to frequent changes
D. It is only written in legal language
Explanation
Correct answer: B. A rigid constitution requires a special, often lengthy and complicated procedure (e.g. a referendum or a supermajority vote) to amend it, unlike a flexible constitution which can be changed like an ordinary law.
Correct answer: B. One-party systems, where only one political party is legally permitted, are typically found in totalitarian states that suppress political competition and pluralism.
The major disadvantage of the first-past-the-post electoral system is?
A. It is difficult to administer
B. It favors smaller political parties
C. It often produces minority governments
D. It allows gerrymanderingCorrect
Explanation
Correct answer: D. Under first-past-the-post, the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins outright, even without a majority. This makes it easy to draw constituency boundaries in ways that favour a particular party or group — a practice known as gerrymandering.
Which of the following is a fundamental principle of the civil service?
A. Partisanship
B. Political neutralityCorrect
C. Political activism
D. Legislative interference
Explanation
Correct answer: B. Political neutrality — serving the government of the day impartially regardless of which party is in power — is a fundamental, defining principle of the civil service.
C. By acting as a watchdog over government activitiesCorrect
D. By censoring opposition views
Explanation
Correct answer: C. A key democratic function of the mass media is to act as a 'watchdog', exposing corruption and government excesses and holding leaders accountable to the public.
A major reason for establishing public corporations is to?
A. Ensure government control of all businesses
B. Provide essential services at affordable costsCorrect
C. Reduce government expenditure
D. Eliminate private sector participation in the economy
Explanation
Correct answer: B. Public corporations (e.g. NEPA, NNPC) are usually established to provide essential services — such as electricity, water, or transport — to the public at costs the private sector may not find profitable to offer.
Correct answer: C. Under military rule, the constitution is typically suspended and the head of state governs by issuing decrees, which have the force of law without going through a legislature.
A. The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)
B. The Action Group (AG)
C. The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP)Correct
D. The Northern People's Congress (NPC)
Explanation
Correct answer: C. The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), founded by Herbert Macaulay in 1923, was Nigeria's first political party, predating the NCNC (1944) and the Action Group (1951).
A. To maintain international peace and securityCorrect
B. To promote communism worldwide
C. To encourage military expansion
D. To increase trade among developed countries
Explanation
Correct answer: A. The United Nations was created after the Second World War with its central mission being to maintain international peace and security among nations.
C. Excessive interference in member states' internal affairs
D. Strong economic integration
Explanation
Correct answer: B. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) lacked a standing army or enforcement mechanism, which severely limited its ability to intervene militarily in conflicts among member states.
In the pre-colonial Hausa-Fulani system, power was mainly exercised by?
A. The kingmakers
B. The EmirCorrect
C. The Obi
D. The council of elders
Explanation
Correct answer: B. In the pre-colonial Hausa-Fulani emirate system, the Emir held supreme political, religious, and administrative authority over the territory, assisted by appointed officials.
The British introduced indirect rule in Nigeria to?
A. Suppress traditional institutions
B. Reduce administrative costsCorrect
C. Allow self-governance
D. Eliminate local rulers
Explanation
Correct answer: B. The British adopted indirect rule — governing through existing traditional rulers (like emirs and chiefs) — mainly to cut down the cost and manpower needed for direct colonial administration.
Which of the following crises directly led to Nigeria's civil war?
A. The 1966 coupCorrect
B. The Aba women's riot
C. The 1953 Kano riot
D. The 1929 tax revolt
Explanation
Correct answer: A. The January 1966 military coup, which overthrew the civilian government of the First Republic, triggered a chain of ethnic and political crises that culminated in the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970).
Which constitution introduced a federal structure to Nigeria?
A. The Clifford Constitution
B. The Macpherson Constitution
C. The Lyttleton ConstitutionCorrect
D. The Independence Constitution
Explanation
Correct answer: C. The 1954 Lyttleton Constitution is credited with formally introducing a federal system of government to Nigeria, dividing the country into the Northern, Western, and Eastern regions.
B. Concentration of power in the central government
C. A unitary system
D. Lack of constitutional supremacy
Explanation
Correct answer: A. A defining characteristic of Nigerian federalism is regional (state) autonomy — power is constitutionally shared between the central government and the federating states.
The judiciary in a democratic state is expected to be?
A. Controlled by the executive
B. IndependentCorrect
C. Accountable to the ruling party
D. Composed only of elected judges
Explanation
Correct answer: B. For justice to be fair and free from political influence, the judiciary in any democracy must be independent of the executive, the legislature, and the ruling party.
Which electoral system best ensures proportional representation?
A. First-past-the-post
B. Simple majority
C. Proportional representationCorrect
D. Run-off elections
Explanation
Correct answer: C. A proportional representation (PR) electoral system directly allocates seats to parties in proportion to the share of votes they win, making it the best system for ensuring proportional outcomes — unlike first-past-the-post or simple majority systems.
A. A state's ability to govern itself without external interferenceCorrect
B. The power of the military over civilians
C. The presence of a ruling political party
D. The influence of traditional rulers
Explanation
Correct answer: A. Sovereignty refers to the supreme, independent authority of a state to govern itself and make its own decisions without external interference.
The principle of collective responsibility applies in?
A. Presidential systems
B. Military rule
C. Parliamentary systemsCorrect
D. One-party states
Explanation
Correct answer: C. Collective responsibility — where the cabinet stands and falls together and defends government decisions as one body before the legislature — is a defining principle of parliamentary systems, not presidential or military systems.
Which of the following was NOT a colonial economic policy?
A. Forced labor
B. Exploitation of natural resources
C. Free trade among AfricansCorrect
D. Taxation of local businesses
Explanation
Correct answer: C. Colonial economic policies were designed to serve European interests: they included forced labour, exploitation of natural resources, and taxation of local businesses. 'Free trade among Africans' was NOT one of these policies, since colonial rule restricted such independent trade.
Correct answer: B. European powers convened the Berlin Conference (1884-85) specifically to agree on rules and boundaries for dividing and colonising Africa among themselves.
Which of the following is NOT a function of the legislature?
A. Making laws
B. Interpreting lawsCorrect
C. Controlling government expenditure
D. Representing the people
Explanation
Correct answer: B. Interpreting laws is a function of the judiciary, not the legislature. The legislature's roles are law-making, controlling government expenditure, and representing the people.
Correct answer: C. Fascism is a form of authoritarian nationalism that suppresses political opposition and dissent, concentrating power in a single leader or party while curbing individual freedoms and press freedom.
C. Allow citizens to vote on important national issuesCorrect
D. Impeach a sitting president
Explanation
Correct answer: C. A referendum is a direct vote in which citizens themselves decide on an important national issue (e.g. a constitutional change), rather than leaving the decision to elected representatives.
B. Economic and social cooperation among former British coloniesCorrect
C. Expansion of British rule
D. Military alliances against non-member states
Explanation
Correct answer: B. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of mostly former British colonies whose main purpose is to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation among its members, not political control or military alliances.
A major reason for military intervention in Nigerian politics is?
A. Economic prosperity
B. Civilian government inefficiency
C. Corruption and political instabilityCorrect
D. Increased voter turnout
Explanation
Correct answer: C. Military takeovers in Nigeria's history have most often been justified as a response to widespread corruption and political instability under civilian administrations.
B. Weak central authority with strong regional governmentsCorrect
C. A presidential system of government
D. Complete elimination of regional autonomy
Explanation
Correct answer: B. A confederation is a loose association of independent states where the central (confederal) authority is weak and most power remains with the individual member states.
The most significant impact of colonialism on African economies was?
A. The establishment of self-sufficient economies
B. The exploitation of natural resources for European benefitCorrect
C. The promotion of industrialization
D. The development of indigenous manufacturing
Explanation
Correct answer: B. Colonialism restructured African economies mainly to extract raw materials and natural resources for the benefit of European industries, rather than to build self-sufficient local economies.
In a federal system, exclusive legislative powers are exercised by?
A. Local governments
B. State governments
C. The central governmentCorrect
D. Traditional rulers
Explanation
Correct answer: C. In a federal system, matters of national importance — such as defence, foreign affairs, and currency — fall under the exclusive legislative list of the central (federal) government, not the states or local governments.
The executive branch of government is primarily responsible for?
A. Making laws
B. Implementing lawsCorrect
C. Interpreting laws
D. Conducting elections
Explanation
Correct answer: B. The executive branch's core responsibility is to implement and enforce the laws that the legislature makes; making and interpreting laws belong to the legislature and judiciary respectively.
The failure of the first republic in Nigeria was mainly due to?
A. The establishment of a federal system
B. Ethnic politics and electoral violenceCorrect
C. Economic prosperity
D. Strict adherence to democratic principles
Explanation
Correct answer: B. The First Republic (1960-1966) collapsed mainly because of intense ethnic-based party politics and the violence and rigging surrounding the 1964/65 elections, which eroded public trust and stability.
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