WAEC Government 2019 Theory Past Questions

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Government is studied for the following reasons: (i) It helps us, as citizens of a state, to know what our rights are, as well as the responsibilities of the state to us; it also enlightens us on our duties and obligations to the state. (ii) The study of government provides us with the necessary tools and skills that enable us to participate effectively in the government of our country, both at the national and local levels. (iii) The knowledge acquired through the study of government puts us in a better position to effectively evaluate or assess the performance of government and government functionaries at all levels. (iv) Through the study of government, citizens are taught to be patriotic — the study of government teaches patriotism and nationalism. (v) It helps us to know the various institutions of government that exist, their functions, and the relationships that exist among these institutions. (vi) The study of government is important because it arouses citizens' interest in the political activities of their country.

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(a) A citizen is a legal member of the state who enjoys all rights and privileges and owes allegiance to the state. (b) Responsibilities of a citizen to the state include: (i) A citizen must show loyalty and patriotism to his/her state at all times. (ii) A citizen should pay his/her tax as and when due. (iii) A citizen must diligently obey and respect the constituted authority of the state. (iv) A citizen must be ready to render national service to the country whenever called upon by the state. (v) A citizen must vote during elections. (vi) A citizen is expected to obey all laws, rules and regulations provided by the government of the state.

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The mass media refers to the news outlets such as radio, television, newspapers and magazines through which information is disseminated to a large audience. The mass media help strengthen modern democracy in the following ways: (i) It serves as an instrument for public education and enlightenment of the masses. (ii) It is an agent of political socialization. (iii) It assists government in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. (iv) It keeps government in check to ensure good governance. (v) It provides employment opportunities for the people. (vi) It provides a link between the government and the people/feedback. (vii) It exposes the ills in society, e.g. corruption and bad governance.

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(a) Local Government is a sub-government unit created by the central/state government through an Act of Parliament to administer a local area. (b) Reasons for the creation of local government include: (i) To bring government closer to the people at the grassroots, helping to formulate policies and programmes that benefit the people at that level. (ii) To serve as a link or contact between the central authority and the local people — helping to transmit local needs to central government and communicate central government's responses back to the community. (iii) To provide an avenue or platform for people at the community level to participate in the governance of their area, contributing to decision-making and enhancing democracy and participatory governance locally. (iv) To allow the people to choose their own leaders — local government gives people the opportunity to elect representatives who are accountable and responsive to them. (v) To ensure the equitable distribution of the country's resources, with local governments serving as units for resource allocation among the people.

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(a) Types of elections include: (i) Direct election (ii) Indirect election (iii) General election (iv) Primary election (v) Bye-election (vi) Run-off election. (b) Election is a sine qua non — something necessary — in a democratic state. The purposes elections serve include: (i) Election serves as a means of checking the excesses of elected state officials, preventing arbitrary use of power. (ii) Election helps raise the political consciousness of the people and helps politically educate the masses, as political parties and civil society present their programmes to the electorate and stress the importance of voting. (iii) Through periodic elections, the popularity and acceptability of a government can be tested, conferring legitimacy on the government and its functionaries. (iv) Election is the most visible and effective means of political participation, allowing people to participate in government by standing for office or voting for representatives. (v) Election provides the platform for smooth leadership succession.

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(a) Pre-independence constitution refers to the colonial constitutions used to govern Nigeria before independence in 1960. They include: (i) Clifford Constitution (1922) (ii) Richards Constitution (1946) (iii) Macpherson Constitution (1951) (iv) Lyttleton Constitution (1954). (b) Features of the 1960 independence constitution: (i) The British Monarch was recognized as the Head of State and was represented by the Governor-General. (ii) The constitution provided for a parliamentary system of government at both the federal and regional levels. (iii) The Privy Council of the House of Lords served as the final court of appeal for the country. (iv) The ceremonial functions of the state were performed by the Head of State (Governor-General), while executive powers were vested in the Prime Minister and his cabinet. (v) The constitution provided for a bicameral legislature at the federal level: the Senate and House of Representatives.

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(a) Federalism is a system of government with at least two tiers of government and a constitutional division of powers between them. Nigeria adopted federalism in 1954 through the Lyttleton Constitution. Problems confronting Nigerian federalism include: (i) Resource control/revenue allocation, otherwise known as fiscal federalism. (ii) Boundary disputes among constituent units. (iii) The rotation of political power among the different groups that constitute the federation. (iv) Minority issues and state creation. (v) Inter-ethnic rivalry. (vi) Over-concentration of power at the centre. (vii) Threat of secession, e.g. IPOB. (b) Features of Nigerian federalism include: (i) The existence of the federal character principle to ensure equitable and fair appointment of people into government offices. (ii) All states of the federation are equally represented in the Senate. (iii) The constitution has always been written and rigid. (iv) A bicameral legislature at the federal level, while states run a unicameral legislature. (v) The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the final court of justice in the country.

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(a) The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) was founded in 1934 as the Lagos Youth Movement before changing its name to the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1936. Key members included: (i) H. O. Davies (ii) Samuel Akinsanya (iii) J. C. Vaughan (iv) Ernest Ikoli. (b) Achievements of the NYM: (i) It helped pressure the colonial government to speed up constitutional development and independence for Nigeria. (ii) It was the first multi-ethnic political party that brought together people of different ethnic groups in Nigeria. (iii) It established a newspaper, the Daily Service, to create political awareness among Nigerians. (iv) It won all three legislative seats allocated to Lagos in 1938. (v) It fought for the introduction of universal adult suffrage in Nigeria.

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(a) NEPAD was adopted by African Heads of State and Government of the OAU in 2001. NEPAD's goal is to ensure the socio-economic and political development of Africa. (b) Objectives of NEPAD include: (i) Eradication of poverty from the African continent within a stipulated time. (ii) Promotion of sustainable growth and development. (iii) Fostering the integration of Africa in the world economy. (iv) Acceleration of the empowerment of women in African countries to ensure gender equality. (v) Ensuring economic cooperation among African countries. (vi) Promoting economic integration in the continent. (vii) Halting the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process.

Model answer

(a) The NCBWA was established in 1917 by educated citizens from British West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia), led by Caseley Hayford from Ghana, holding its first conference in Accra in 1920. Its contributions to the nationalist struggle included: (i) It brought the four British West African territories together to fight for self-government. (ii) It sent a delegation to London to press home demands for key reforms in their respective territories. (iii) It awakened the political consciousness of the people through newspaper publications, seminars, and public/town hall meetings. (iv) It demanded and fought for electoral reforms/the elective principle. (v) It demanded the Africanization of the Civil Service. (vi) It demanded and fought for the establishment of universities in member territories. (b) Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (popularly called 'Zik of Africa') was one of the pillars of nationalism in Nigeria and Africa. His contributions included: (i) He, alongside other nationalists, agitated for better deals for Nigeria from the colonialists through political parties and newspapers. (ii) He established a newspaper, The West African Pilot, which was critical of the colonial government and its policies and drew attention to the evils of colonialism. (iii) He participated in the various conferences that culminated in Nigeria's independence. (iv) He co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons (NCNC), which played an active role in the struggle for Nigeria's independence. (v) His opposition to the Richards Constitution led to the promulgation of the Macpherson Constitution. (vi) He gave his support to the general strike of 1945. (vii) He influenced the nationalist struggle through the publication of several books, e.g. Development of Political Parties in Nigeria (1958) and Economic Reconstruction in Nigeria (1943). (viii) He joined the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) with others to open the floodgate for nationalism in Nigeria.