JAMB Government 1998

28 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 1

Which of the following defines the concept of government?

  1. the process of administering justice in a country
  2. the process of supervising the activities of the legislature
  3. the orderly management and control of the affairs of a country
  4. the orderly transfer of power to duly elected politicians
Answer and explanation

C: the orderly management and control of the affairs of a country

Government organizes and manages public affairs through institutions and decisions. Administering justice and supervising legislation are narrower activities within that broader role.

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Question 2

The most distinguishing characteristic of the state is

  1. government
  2. population
  3. territory
  4. sovereignty
Answer and explanation

D: sovereignty

Sovereignty distinguishes a state as an authority that is supreme internally and independent externally. Other organizations can have populations, territories or governing bodies without being states.

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Question 3

The judiciary assigns clear meaning to the laws by

  1. interpretation
  2. enforcement
  3. adjudication
  4. revision
Answer and explanation

A: interpretation

Interpretation explains the meaning and application of legal provisions. Enforcement puts rules into effect, while adjudication is the broader process of resolving a dispute.

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Question 4

The structure of government implies the

  1. law making process of government
  2. law enforcement process of government
  3. organization of powers and functions of government
  4. method of revenue allocation by government
Answer and explanation

C: organization of powers and functions of government

Government structure describes how public institutions, powers and functions are organized. Making laws, enforcing them and allocating revenue are activities within that structure.

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Question 5

If the central government has less powers than the component units, the constitution is said to be

  1. federal
  2. unitary
  3. confederal
  4. unwritten
Answer and explanation

C: confederal

A confederal arrangement leaves the member states with primary sovereignty and gives the common centre limited delegated functions. This explains a centre with less authority than its constituent units.

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Question 9

The resignation of the cabinet after a defeat in parliament, is an expression of the principle of

  1. political accountability
  2. collective responsibility
  3. checks and balances
  4. rule of law
Answer and explanation

B: collective responsibility

The cabinet acts as a collective team responsible to parliament. When loss of parliamentary confidence leads the whole cabinet to resign, it demonstrates collective responsibility.

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Question 10

Ceremonial and executive powers are fused in the

  1. parliamentary system of government
  2. presidential system of government
  3. federal system of government
  4. unitary system of government
Answer and explanation

B: presidential system of government

In a presidential system the president is both head of state and head of government. The office therefore combines ceremonial representation with executive leadership.

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Question 12

the principle by which both the governors and the governed are bound by the laws is called

  1. constitutionalism
  2. constitutional supremacy
  3. rule by decree
  4. rule of law
Answer and explanation

D: rule of law

The rule of law binds rulers and citizens alike. Public office does not grant a general exemption from legal duties and limits.

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Question 13

The empowerment of the police service commission to make rules for the appointment, promotion and dismissal of its personnel, is an example of

  1. a decree
  2. a penal law
  3. delegated legislation
  4. an executive order
Answer and explanation

C: delegated legislation

Rules made by a body under powers granted to it are delegated legislation. The enabling authority sets the limits within which the body can regulate its affairs.

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Question 14

In democracy, Franchise is given to all

  1. Adult citizens
  2. citizens
  3. loyal party members
  4. resident adults
Answer and explanation

A: Adult citizens

Democratic adult suffrage gives voting rights to adult citizens subject to lawful electoral qualifications. It is not restricted to supporters of the ruling party or automatically extended to every resident.

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Question 18

One major aim of a pressure group is to

  1. capture political power
  2. influence the policies of the government
  3. install a government of its choice
  4. implement policies that will benefit its members
Answer and explanation

B: influence the policies of the government

Pressure groups try to influence government policy in favour of their members or causes. Capturing governmental power is the defining electoral objective of political parties.

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Question 21

The administration of the capital of the emirate under the pre-colonial Hausa Fulani political system was entrusted to the

  1. galadima
  2. waziri
  3. sarkin fada
  4. sarkin pawa
Answer and explanation

A: galadima

The Galadima administered the capital town. This differs from the Waziri's broader advisory role, the Sarkin Fada's palace duties and the Sarkin Pawa's association with butchers.

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Question 23

In the pre-colonial Yoruba society, the powers of the Oyomesi were checked by the

  1. Baale
  2. Ogboni
  3. Are Onakakanfo
  4. Bashorun
Answer and explanation

B: Ogboni

In the Oyo political system, the Ogboni exercised a restraining and mediating role between the Alaafin and the Oyo Mesi. This helped prevent either institution from exercising unchecked authority.

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Question 29

Which of the following statements is true about the 1963 and 1979 constitutions?

  1. both had provisions for the office of the president
  2. both had provisions for the office of a constitutional president
  3. both provided for the offices of prime minister and president
  4. both had provisions for the office of an executive president
Answer and explanation

A: both had provisions for the office of the president

Both constitutions provided for a president, but the roles differed. The 1963 president was largely ceremonial, whereas the 1979 president headed the executive government.

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Question 30

The premier of Western Region immediately after independence was

  1. Chief Obafemi Awolowo
  2. Chief Ladoke Akintola
  3. Dr. M.A Majekodunmi
  4. Alhaji D.S Adegbenro
Answer and explanation

B: Chief Ladoke Akintola

Ladoke Akintola was premier of the Western Region at independence in 1960. Obafemi Awolowo had moved to federal opposition politics before that point.

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Question 31

During the period 1960, Nigeria was governed under the

  1. presidential system of government
  2. Westminster system of government
  3. Confederal system of government
  4. unitary system of government
Answer and explanation

B: Westminster system of government

Nigeria used the Westminster parliamentary model at independence in 1960, with a prime minister leading government. The executive presidential model was introduced in 1979.

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Question 32

Which of the following was not established under the 1979 Nigerian constitution?

  1. National Economic Council
  2. National Security Council
  3. National Council on Education
  4. National Defence Council
Answer and explanation

C: National Council on Education

Section 140 of the 1979 Constitution established the National Economic Council, National Security Council and National Defence Council. The National Council on Education was not one of the executive bodies established by that provision.

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Question 33

Federalism was adopted in Nigeria as a constitutional response to the problem of

  1. educational imbalance
  2. national identity
  3. ethnic pluralism
  4. manpower and resources
Answer and explanation

C: ethnic pluralism

Federalism can accommodate ethnic diversity by combining national government with regional or state authority. The arrangement permits shared government while preserving some local autonomy.

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Question 34

In a federal system, the power allocated to both the central and the state governments is said to be

  1. exclusive
  2. concurrent
  3. residual
  4. inherent
Answer and explanation

B: concurrent

Concurrent powers are shared by central and state governments within the constitutional allocation. Exclusive powers are reserved to one level, while residual powers are those left unlisted.

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Question 36

Public corporations mainly differ from ministries in that they

  1. are not bureaucratic
  2. provide social services to the public
  3. require highly professional staff
  4. are organized as business enterprises
Answer and explanation

D: are organized as business enterprises

Public corporations have a separate enterprise structure for carrying out particular services or commercial activities. Ministries are departments of government; both may employ professionals and provide services.

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Question 37

The privatization of public corporation is aimed at

  1. making their goods and services available
  2. making them reliable
  3. making them more efficient
  4. allowing the public to control them
Answer and explanation

C: making them more efficient

A policy aim of privatization is to improve enterprise efficiency through changes in ownership, incentives and management. This is an intended benefit, not a guarantee that every privatization succeeds.

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Question 38

One major democratic innovation in local government administration introduced by the Babangida regime was the

  1. appointment of portfolio councillors
  2. appointment of retired military officers as sole administrators
  3. selection of heads of personnel management departments from the councillors
  4. separation of powers between the executive and legislative arms of the councils
Answer and explanation

D: separation of powers between the executive and legislative arms of the councils

The local presidential model separated executive responsibilities from the council's legislative functions. This institutional distinction differs from appointing unelected administrators or assigning individual portfolios.

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Question 40

Which of the following factors was not responsible for the military intervention in Nigerian politics in 1966?

  1. Willingness of politicians to relinquish power
  2. the Western Regional election of 1965
  3. The federal election of 1964
  4. Ethnic politics and lawlessness
Answer and explanation

A: Willingness of politicians to relinquish power

The 1966 military intervention was not a planned voluntary transfer by politicians. Electoral crises and political disorder formed part of the background, whereas willingness to surrender civilian authority does not describe that process.

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Question 42

An example of Nigeria's external cultural relations is her

  1. establishment of diplomatic relations with other nations
  2. economic aid to neighbouring countries
  3. exchange of students with friendly nations
  4. trade interactions with developing countries
Answer and explanation

C: exchange of students with friendly nations

Student exchanges create educational and cultural links between countries. Trade and economic aid are primarily economic relationships, while establishing diplomatic relations is a political act.

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Question 43

The concept of Africa as the centre - piece of Nigerian foreign policy implies that Nigeria should

  1. interfere in the internal affairs of other African states
  2. support secessionist movements in Africa
  3. participate in any peace-keeping operation in Africa
  4. Lay more emphasis on African issues
Answer and explanation

D: Lay more emphasis on African issues

An Africa-centred foreign policy gives special priority to African concerns. It does not require intervention in every conflict or support for every secessionist movement.

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Question 44

In 1998, the ECOWAS organ responsible for general administration was the

  1. Executive Secretariat
  2. Council of Ministers
  3. Authority of Heads of State and Government
  4. Tribunal of the Community
Answer and explanation

A: Executive Secretariat

The Executive Secretariat handled ECOWAS administration under its earlier institutional structure. The Authority of Heads of State and Government set high-level direction; the secretariat was later transformed into a Commission.

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Question 46

The headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa is located in

  1. Ghana
  2. Kenya
  3. Nigeria
  4. Ethiopia
Answer and explanation

D: Ethiopia

The Economic Commission for Africa is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is a United Nations regional commission, separate from Nigeria-based or Kenyan institutions.

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Question 49

The Security Council of the United Nations Organization is made up of

  1. the Western industrial nations
  2. the five permanent members
  3. the five permanent members and other members periodically elected
  4. eleven member states elected by the General Assembly
Answer and explanation

C: the five permanent members and other members periodically elected

The Security Council combines five permanent members with ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. It is therefore neither a body of only permanent members nor one composed entirely of elected members.

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