JAMB Government 1978

23 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 1

When did Nigeria gain her Independence?

  1. 1st October 1963
  2. 31st October 1690
  3. 1st October 2012
  4. 1st October 1960
  5. 12th October 1992
Answer and explanation

D: 1st October 1960

Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960. It became a republic in 1963, which is a different constitutional milestone.

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Question 2

Democracy means a system of government in which

  1. the majority rules
  2. the minority rules
  3. there is no party system
  4. the people rule
  5. none of the above
Answer and explanation

D: the people rule

Democracy means rule by the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives. Majority decision-making is a common method within democracy, but the defining idea is popular rule.

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Question 4

The Executive is

  1. a committee of the legislature
  2. the body that makes laws
  3. the body that executes the policies of government
  4. the highest organ of government
  5. none of the above
Answer and explanation

C: the body that executes the policies of government

The executive carries out government policies and administers the law. Lawmaking is primarily the legislature's function, while interpreting the law is associated with the judiciary.

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Question 5

The Judiciary is

  1. an arm of the Executive
  2. the body which makes the law
  3. a body of lawyers
  4. the body which interprets the law
  5. the body which enforces the law
Answer and explanation

D: the body which interprets the law

The judiciary interprets and applies the law in deciding disputes. It is a branch of government, not merely an association of lawyers or a committee of the executive.

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Question 6

The separation of powers means the same as

  1. a presidential system of government
  2. checks and balances
  3. the rule of law
  4. supremacy of the judiciary
  5. none of the above
Answer and explanation

E: none of the above

Separation of powers divides governmental functions among branches. Checks and balances, the rule of law and presidentialism are related ideas, but none means exactly the same thing.

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Question 8

Pressure groups are

  1. Organization which wants to overthrow the government
  2. organizations which seek to influence the policies of the government
  3. associations of people who share the same ideology
  4. political parties
  5. religious orders
Answer and explanation

B: organizations which seek to influence the policies of the government

Pressure groups organize to influence government policy in support of particular interests or causes. Their defining purpose is influence rather than winning office and forming a government.

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Question 10

The citizen's obligations are

  1. what the government orders
  2. duties the individual imposes on himself
  3. what the law requires of the individual
  4. what the military decrees
  5. what political parties demand of their members
Answer and explanation

C: what the law requires of the individual

Citizens obligations are duties required by the legal and civic order. They do not arise simply from personal preference or the demands of a political party.

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Question 15

The first political party properly so-called was formed in Nigeria in

  1. 1916
  2. 1923
  3. 1944
  4. 1948
  5. 1951
Answer and explanation

B: 1923

The Nigerian National Democratic Party was founded in 1923 under Herbert Macaulays leadership. It is conventionally recognized as Nigerias first political party.

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Question 16

The Loi-cadre, a major factor in the constitutional development of the French colonial territories, was introduced in

  1. 1940
  2. 1946
  3. 1950
  4. 1956
  5. 1960
Answer and explanation

D: 1956

The French loi-cadre governing overseas territorial development was enacted on 23 June 1956. It formed part of the constitutional changes preceding independence in French African territories.

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Question 17

The Coussey Commission Report laid the groundwork for the eventual independence of

  1. Gambia
  2. Gold Coast (Ghana)
  3. Sierra Leone
  4. Liberia
  5. Nigeria
Answer and explanation

B: Gold Coast (Ghana)

The Coussey Committee reported on constitutional development in the Gold Coast. Its proposals contributed to the constitutional process that preceded Ghanas independence.

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Question 18

The (former) Western Region of Nigeria became internally self-governing in

  1. 1955
  2. 1957
  3. 1958
  4. 1956
  5. 1959
Answer and explanation

B: 1957

The Western Region attained internal self-government in 1957, alongside the Eastern Region. This regional change preceded Nigeria’s national independence in 1960.

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Question 19

The first Pan African, conference was held in

  1. Paris
  2. Brussels
  3. London
  4. New York
  5. Manchester
Answer and explanation

C: London

The first Pan-African Conference took place in London in 1900. It should be distinguished from later Pan-African congresses held in other cities.

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Question 23

To raise funds, local governments can levy

  1. import duties
  2. income taxes
  3. Excise duties
  4. rates
  5. profits tax
Answer and explanation

D: rates

Local governments can raise revenue through locally authorized rates. Import and excise duties belong to different taxing authorities rather than ordinary local-government rating powers.

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Question 24

The Economic Commission for Africa is an agency of

  1. the OAU
  2. the Commonwealth
  3. the United Nations
  4. the OCAM
  5. the African Development Bank
Answer and explanation

C: the United Nations

The Economic Commission for Africa is a United Nations regional commission. It was established by the UN Economic and Social Council to support African economic and social development.

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Question 27

The OAU was formed in

  1. 1946
  2. 1956
  3. 1960
  4. 1963
  5. 1965
Answer and explanation

D: 1963

The Organization of African Unity was established in 1963, when its founding charter was adopted in Addis Ababa. Its purposes included African unity and cooperation.

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Question 30

The first Governor General of Nigeria was

  1. Lord Lugard
  2. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
  3. Sir James Robertson
  4. the late Major General Aguiyi Ironsi
  5. the Oni of ife
Answer and explanation

A: Lord Lugard

Lord Lugard became Governor-General of amalgamated Nigeria in 1914. The office followed the administrative union of the Northern and Southern territories.

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Question 31

The supreme policy-making organ in the Organization of African Unity is

  1. the Council of ministers
  2. the Assembly of Head of State and government
  3. the general secretariat
  4. the specialized commissions
  5. none of the above
Answer and explanation

B: the Assembly of Head of State and government

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government was the OAU's supreme organ. The Council of Ministers and secretariat carried out different coordinating and administrative responsibilities.

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Question 32

In which of these organs of the United Nations Organization is veto power exercised by some countries

  1. the world health organization
  2. the security council
  3. the general assembly
  4. the UN committee against apartheid
  5. the international court of justice
Answer and explanation

B: the security council

The Security Council's five permanent members can block substantive resolutions through a negative vote. This veto arrangement does not apply to voting in the General Assembly.

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Question 35

If the rights of the individual are violated or threatened, where can he go for redress?

  1. the Executive branch of government
  2. the Legislative branch of government
  3. the Local government council
  4. the Judicial branch of government
  5. the Ministry for internal of Home Affairs
Answer and explanation

D: the Judicial branch of government

Courts provide judicial remedies when rights are violated or threatened. A person can seek the appropriate legal relief through the judiciary rather than relying only on administrative discretion.

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Question 42

The idea of collective responsibility in the Executive branch of government means that

  1. no single member of the executive can take any responsible decision
  2. a member of the executive has no way out of decisions made in that body
  3. a member of the executive cannot publicly criticize decisions collectively made without first resigning
  4. responsibility within the executive is not unilateral
  5. parliament must ratify executive decisions collectively reached
Answer and explanation

C: a member of the executive cannot publicly criticize decisions collectively made without first resigning

Collective cabinet responsibility requires ministers to support agreed government decisions publicly. A minister who cannot accept a collective decision is normally expected to resign before publicly opposing it.

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Question 43

Indirect Rule as practised by the British in their West African colonies

  1. did not attempt to reform existing traditional institutions
  2. was over glorified and expedient nonsense
  3. satisfied neither the rulers nor the ruled
  4. had nothing in common with the reality of French rule in their colonies
  5. meant ruling through existing rulers and attempting to check excesses
Answer and explanation

E: meant ruling through existing rulers and attempting to check excesses

Indirect rule formally governed through existing traditional authorities under colonial supervision. Colonial officials claimed a supervisory role, though the system often altered those institutions and did not reliably prevent abuses.

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Question 47

The 1976 local government reforms in Nigeria

  1. sought uniformity in the type, purpose and functions of local authorities
  2. made traditional rulers more powerful than ever before
  3. were a waste of time and the federal government’s money
  4. promoted unity but allowed diversity in the structure of local governments
  5. would definitely establish clean and efficient governments at the local level
Answer and explanation

A: sought uniformity in the type, purpose and functions of local authorities

The 1976 reforms sought a more uniform local government system with defined functions across Nigeria. Uniform rules did not by themselves guarantee efficiency or give traditional rulers unrestricted power.

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Question 48

The principle of universal adult suffrage refers to

  1. the right of all adult people to vote
  2. the structure of political parties
  3. the legal nature of a constitution
  4. the right to free speech
  5. all of the above
Answer and explanation

A: the right of all adult people to vote

Universal adult suffrage is the principle of voting rights for adult citizens without exclusions based on wealth, sex or similar status. Electoral laws still define voting age and registration procedures.

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