2012 NECO GOVERNMENT QUESTIONS

Hint

(a) One party system: is a party system that permits/allows the existence of only one political party. Only one political party is legally recognized by the state.

(b) Advantages of one-party system ;

(i) It promotes national unity and political stability by reducing the possibilities of conflicts among political parties.

(ii) It encourages strong government, strong party organization, and leadership

(iii) It encourages fast economic development. The party is focused on the organizational goals of the party and can easily mobilize the people for effective implementation

(iv)  One party system is cheap, economical. It prevents wastage of money running other political parties

(v)  It promotes quick decision making as many bodies need not be consulted before decisions are reached

(vi) It prevents unhealthy rivalry and conflicts that exist where there is more than one political party

(vii)  It enhances continuity in government especially in the areas of policymaking and implementation.

(viii) It minimizes the level of electoral malpractices during elections as parties use to outdo themselves in an attempt to gain political power.

Hint

(a) Unitarianism: is the political process of concentrating political power and authority in a single central decision-making body/single authority i.e the central government.

(b) Attributes of unitary constitution include the following ;

i.  Political power is concentrated on the central government. All political power emanates from the central government.

ii.  The constitution is usually unwritten. It is not compiled in a single document.

iii.  The constitution is flexible hence can be easily amended

iv.  Other subordinate units of government that exist are created by the central government. Therefore they derive their power from the central government.

v.   Political power is highly centralized; the highest degree of centralization of power exists under the unitary system.

vi.  The constitution only recognizes the central government.

vii.   In unitary government, the constitution is not necessarily supreme

viii.   Countries that adopt unitary constitutions are relatively small in size and population

Hint

The following factors can hinder the sovereignty of a state ;

i.    Constitution; the constitution defines the power of government institutions. The government cannot contravene the provisions of the constitution.

ii.   Periodic election is a hindrance to the sovereignty of the state as it can vote any bad government out.

iii.  Interdependence and external aids; countries depend on one another most especially the developing states. They depend on developed countries for financial aids, science, and technology transfer e.t.c. the donor countries through this can influence both the internal and external policies of the country.

iv.  Membership of international organizations; as states belong to different international organizations, they must comply with the decisions and charter of such organizations e.g AU, UNO, NATO, EU, the commonwealth of nations, OPEC, ECOWAS e.t.c.

v.   Public opinion; both internal and external public opinion can hinder sovereignty in a state.

vi.  Custom, traditional and religious beliefs of the people can hinder sovereignty.

vii.  International laws and conventions will always be respected by states.

viii.  International treaties, agreements, and pacts signed by states must be respected by all parties.

ix.  Dominance of powerful states like USA, RUSSIA, e.t.c. will continue to limit the sovereignty of states

x.   More economically advanced states sometimes influence the exercise of sovereignty of poor countries.

xi.  External trade will always influence the sovereignty of states.

xii.  Geographical location e.g. landlocked countries, nearness to other states; these factors affect the sovereignty of states.

Hint

The local government is important to modern-day Nigeria for the following reasons;

i.  It caters for the needs of the people through the provision of social services such as roads, market, health facilities, water, bus stop, recreational centers e.t.c

ii.  It provides avenue through which the local people participated in activities of the government.

iii.  It brings the government closer to the people. It encourages them to participate in local politics.

iv.  It complements the efforts of the states and federal government in the maintenance of law and order in their locality.

v.  It acts as a link between the government, state and federal, and the people. It let the people know the policies and programs of the government and inform the government of the needs and aspirations of the people.

vi.  It is a forum for training the local people in the art of governance and leadership

vii. It creates employment for the people

viii.  It helps to relieve the workload on the state and the federal government.

Hint

Among the factors that affect Nigeria’s foreign policy are;

i.  The technology and industrial needs of Nigeria affects her foreign policy. Nigeria is not yet developed technologically. Nigeria will have to relate more with countries that will help her develop in that area.

ii.  Furthermore is that her economic development motives also affects her foreign policy. She has to relate with countries that will help her achieve her economic development motives.

iii.  Again colonial heritage or tie of Nigeria is another factor. Nigeria relates well with Britain and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations because of this.

iv.  Location and geographical nearness are also affecting Nigerians foreign policy. Nigeria’s neighbors and the continent Nigeria is located affects her foreign policy.

v.  Military needs, assistance,, and security of Nigeria also affect her foreign policy. At this time of security challenges in Nigeria, Nigeria’s military and security needs are evident and she needs to summon these problems, this will always affect her foreign policy.

vi. Public opinion of the citizens of the country can affect her foreign policy towards that country

vii.  Trade can influence her foreign policy as an oil-exporting country the oil-exporting countries and her oil trade partners will always affect her foreign policy

viii.  Decisions of international organizations she belongs to like UNO, AU, ECOWAS, OPEC e.t.c can always influence her foreign policy.

ix. Religious affiliation also affects her foreign policy.

x.  Political ideologies of Nigeria and the ideological dispositions of the leaders affect her foreign policy.

xi.  The type of government in Nigeria e.g. whether a democratic or military government affects her foreign policy.

xii.   National or domestic interest of Nigeria affects her foreign policy.

Hint

The following are achievements of Macpherson constitution of 1951;

i.  The Macpherson constitution was the first constitution given to Nigerians with Nigerian participation. Nigerians were consulted extensively at different levels before it was adopted.

ii.   Macpherson constitution introduced bicameral legislature in the western region

iii.  It introduced system as Nigerians were appointed for the first time as ministers though ministers without portfolios.

iv.  It introduced the executive council for each of the regions and one at the center (council of ministers)

v.   It introduced quasi-federalism; the powers of the regional authorities were limited but it shared powers between the regions and the central government.

vi.  It introduced a new central lawmaking body as House of Representatives.

vii.  It promoted wider representation and political participation e.g from the north 68 representatives from the east and west 34 representatives respectively.

viii.  It laid the foundation for the process of decolonization of Nigeria. The motion for self-government was moved in the floor of the house of Representatives in 1953 and also in 1953 London constitutional conference

ix.  The constitution stimulated the formation of political parties and the development of political parties in Nigeria

x.  Adult suffrage was extended to the entire country, unlike the two previous constitutions that restricted suffrage to residents of Calabar and Lagos.

Hint

The basic features of Nigeria federalism;

i.  Division or sharing of governmental power. The constitution shares political power between the central government and other component units of government into exclusive, concurrent, and residual powers.

ii.   The organs of government, civil service, and the judiciary are duplicated.

iii.   The constitution is supreme. Any exercise of power outside the constitution is ultra verse.

iv.   The Nigerian constitution is written and rigid; Nigeria’s constitution is compiled in a simple document and the amendment procedure is difficult and cumbersome.

v.   Succession is forbidden. Any part of Nigeria is outlawed from breaking away.

vi.  There is the existence of the Supreme Court to give judicial interpretation and exercise the power of judicial review.

vii.  The constitution provides a formula for revenue allocation sharing to the component units.

viii.   The police force is under federal control.

ix.  There is the existence of three tiers of government, central, state and local government.

x.   Nigeria is made up of thirty states unequal states plus the federal capital territory.

xi.  There is a prevalence of the federal laws over that of the state in the case of conflicts (cases in concurrent lists.)

xii.  There is the existence of bicameralism at the center and unilateralism at state and local governments.

xiii.  There is equal representation of each state in the senate, three representatives into the senate from each state. Each state is divided into three senatorial districts.

Hint

International labor organization is an agency of the United Nations that deals with labor issues.

The following are its objectives;

i.  To improve the working condition of workers.

ii.  To improve the labor standards through researches on manpower and vocational training

iii.  To get employers, workers, and government representatives together for informed deliberation and informed decisions.

iv.  To encourage most government of the world of the need to respect worker’s rights, liberties and freedom.

v.  To condemn outright the use of child labor

vi.  To draw experts from this body to give assistance and expert advice to third world countries on matters relating to labor.

vii.   To ensure full employment for workers in the world not where workers are rendering full-time labor and paid as part-time workers.

Hint

(a)  Party manifesto ; is a document that outlines the electoral promises, programs, and cardinal plans of a political party which it intends to fulfill when elected into office.

(b)  Party manifesto is necessary in Nigeria because of the following reasons;

i.  Manifesto of a party gives direction to the party’s action. It spells out the party’s ideologies, objectives, programs, and plans. Once the party gains political power it is handy to direct its course of activities. it spells out how the objectives will be achieved.

ii.  The manifesto draws membership, supporters, and voters to the party. It attracts the electorate on the aims, objectives, and activities of the party and what it stands to do when voted into power.

iii.  Party manifesto is like a scorecard to assess how well a party has achieved its cardinal plans and programs.