JAMB Government 1999

32 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 1

In a federal state, power is shared

  1. between the central government and the local authorities
  2. among the states of the federation
  3. among the major regions of the country
  4. between the central government and other coordinate units
Answer and explanation

D: between the central government and other coordinate units

Federalism constitutionally divides authority between a central government and coordinate constituent units. Each level has powers in its own assigned sphere.

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Question 2

In a federal system of government, the centre is

  1. superior to the other components
  2. inferior to the other components
  3. equal to the other components
  4. of unlimited jurisdiction
Answer and explanation

C: equal to the other components

In a federation, central and constituent governments derive their assigned powers from the constitution. They are coordinate within their respective spheres, rather than one having unlimited jurisdiction.

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Question 3

In a presidential system of government, ministers are

  1. individually responsible to the president
  2. individually responsible to the senate
  3. collectively responsible to the president
  4. collectively responsible to the electorate
Answer and explanation

A: individually responsible to the president

In the presidential model, ministers serve under the president and are individually accountable to that office. They do not depend on collective parliamentary confidence in the cabinet.

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Question 4

The principle of collective responsibility implies that

  1. individual views cannot be expressed
  2. decisions taken are defended in spite of individual opinions
  3. those who hold different views must acquiesce
  4. government cannot be personalized
Answer and explanation

B: decisions taken are defended in spite of individual opinions

Collective responsibility requires ministers to defend agreed government decisions publicly despite their private opinions. A minister who cannot support an agreed policy may resign rather than remain in office and oppose it.

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Question 5

In the parliamentary system of government, formal legislation can take the following forms except

  1. royal proclamations
  2. order in council
  3. acts of parliament
  4. ministerial pronouncement
Answer and explanation

D: ministerial pronouncement

A ministerial pronouncement is a statement and does not by itself constitute formal legislation. Acts, authorized orders in council and relevant royal proclamations can have formal legal status.

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Question 6

One of the distinctive features of democracy is that it

  1. connotes civil rule
  2. facilitates popular participation
  3. provides for a unicameral legislature
  4. is not associated with one - part system
Answer and explanation

B: facilitates popular participation

Democracy gives people opportunities to participate in public decisions and select representatives. Civilian administration alone does not establish that participation, and a particular number of chambers is not essential.

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Question 9

Bicameral legislature are a common feature of

  1. monarchical systems
  2. confederal systems
  3. federal systems
  4. unitary systems
Answer and explanation

C: federal systems

Federal legislatures commonly have two chambers so that both the population and constituent units can be represented. Bicameralism is common in federations, though not exclusive to them.

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Question 10

In a federal constitution, legislative powers that are shared by two levels of government are referred to as

  1. exclusive
  2. extra ordinary
  3. residual
  4. concurrent
Answer and explanation

D: concurrent

Concurrent powers are law-making powers shared by different levels of government. Exclusive powers belong to one level, while residual powers are those left outside the enumerated lists.

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Question 11

The most important function of the executive organ of government is to

  1. formulate policies
  2. give assent to bills
  3. control foreign policy
  4. enforce laws
Answer and explanation

D: enforce laws

The executive carries laws into effect through administration and enforcement. Policy formation and foreign affairs are important activities within this broader executive role.

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Question 12

The process of learning the norms and values associated with a political system is referred to as political

  1. socialization
  2. indoctrination
  3. culture
  4. participation
Answer and explanation

A: socialization

Political socialization is how people learn the norms, values and attitudes of a political system. Participation is political activity, while culture is the broader pattern of shared beliefs.

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Question 13

Which of the following best describes the role of the civil service?

  1. promoting the interest of civil servants
  2. advising government and implementing its policies
  3. keeping records for government
  4. providing information on government and its agencies
Answer and explanation

B: advising government and implementing its policies

The civil service provides policy advice and carries government decisions into effect. Record-keeping and information provision support this wider administrative role.

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Question 15

Legislative control over delegated legislation can be performed through

  1. withdrawal of delegated powers by the judiciary
  2. nullification of unconstitutional legislation
  3. investigation into the exercise of delegated power
  4. approval of legislation by the Chief justice
Answer and explanation

C: investigation into the exercise of delegated power

A legislature can investigate how delegated authority is used and scrutinize the resulting rules. The other options describe judicial or non-legislative actions.

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Question 17

The notion of equality before the law is the same as the principle of

  1. supremacy of the constitution
  2. rule of law
  3. independence of the judiciary
  4. social equality
Answer and explanation

B: rule of law

Equality before the law is a central element of the rule of law. It requires legal rules to apply without arbitrary privilege based on a person’s status.

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Question 21

Indirect legislation can be achieved by

  1. judicial interpretation and precedent
  2. passing of bills and making of decrees
  3. passing a private member's bill
  4. the two legislative chambers considering a bill
Answer and explanation

A: judicial interpretation and precedent

Judicial interpretation and precedent can develop legal rules through court decisions. This differs from direct legislation, in which a legislature formally enacts a bill.

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Question 22

Naturalization is a process of acquiring citizenship by

  1. persons of dual nationality
  2. foreign visitors to a country
  3. resident foreigners of good character
  4. persons born abroad
Answer and explanation

C: resident foreigners of good character

Naturalization provides a route to citizenship for eligible foreign residents who meet legal conditions, commonly including residence and good character. It does not occur automatically through a short visit.

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Question 23

The ideology which states that each person is the best judge of what is in their self-interest is

  1. liberalism
  2. socialism
  3. fascism
  4. feudalism
Answer and explanation

A: liberalism

Liberalism generally treats individuals as capable of judging their own interests and making choices. This supports personal liberty and limits on coercive control.

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Question 26

The independence Constitution can be described as

  1. monarchical and presidential
  2. Republican and parliamentary
  3. monarchical and parliamentary
  4. federal and republican
Answer and explanation

C: monarchical and parliamentary

Nigeria retained the British monarch as head of state at independence in 1960 and used a parliamentary government led by a prime minister. The republic began in 1963.

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Question 27

The first Head of Government in independent Nigeria was

  1. Nnamdi Azikiwe
  2. Ahmadu Bello
  3. Tafawa Balewa
  4. Herbert Macaulay
Answer and explanation

C: Tafawa Balewa

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was Nigeria's prime minister at independence in 1960 and therefore head of government. The head-of-state role was separate in the parliamentary system.

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Question 30

The Lagos Colony and Protectorate was amalgamated with The Protectorate of Southern Nigeria in

  1. 1886
  2. 1893
  3. 1906
  4. 1922
Answer and explanation

C: 1906

The Lagos Colony and Protectorate joined the Southern Nigeria Protectorate in 1906. This was a separate administrative merger from the Northern-Southern amalgamation of 1914.

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Question 31

During the 1957 constitutional conference the Willink Commission was set up to

  1. Recommend a date for independence
  2. suggest an equitable revenue allocation formula
  3. create new regions in Nigeria
  4. recommend solutions to the problem of the minorities
Answer and explanation

D: recommend solutions to the problem of the minorities

The Willink Commission examined minority fears and recommended safeguards. Its remit was distinct from setting the independence date or devising revenue-sharing arrangements.

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Question 32

The duty of an Alkali under the Hausa-Fulani political system is to

  1. adjudicate under Islamic laws
  2. make Islamic laws
  3. execute Islamic laws
  4. make treaties under Islamic laws
Answer and explanation

A: adjudicate under Islamic laws

An Alkali is a judge who decides cases under Islamic law. Adjudication is distinct from political treaty-making and from the executive enforcement of judgments.

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Question 36

Decree No. 34 of May 1966 is also known as the

  1. State Security Decree
  2. Suspension and Modification Decree
  3. Public Order Decree
  4. Unification Decree
Answer and explanation

D: Unification Decree

Decree No. 34 of May 1966 is known as the Unification Decree. It sought to replace Nigeria's federal arrangements with a more unified system during Aguiyi-Ironsi's government.

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Question 38

In 1979, the Unity Party of Nigeria contested and won gubernatorial elections in

  1. Lagos, Ogun, Imo, Oyo and Bendel
  2. Lagos, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Benue
  3. Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Bendel
  4. Lagos, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo
Answer and explanation

C: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Bendel

The UPN won the governorships of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Bendel. Its governors included Jakande, Onabanjo, Ige, Ajasin and Alli; Imo, Kwara and Benue were won by other parties.

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Question 39

One of the main reasons for the creation of more local government in Nigeria is to

  1. make them more responsive to people's needs
  2. weaken the powers of traditional authorities
  3. make them more receptive to traditional rulers
  4. establish them as the third tier in the federal structure
Answer and explanation

A: make them more responsive to people's needs

Creating local authorities can make administration more responsive to communities by bringing decision-making closer to residents. Responsiveness is a policy aim rather than an automatic consequence of increasing council numbers.

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Question 40

Based on its objectives, the Organization of African Unity can primarily be classified as

  1. a social organization
  2. a political organization
  3. a cultural organization
  4. an economic organization
Answer and explanation

B: a political organization

The OAU was principally a political organization of sovereign African states, promoting unity, cooperation and decolonization. It also pursued social, cultural and economic objectives within that wider framework.

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Question 42

The annual budget of the OAU is approved by the

  1. Council of Ministers
  2. Secretary General
  3. Assembly of Heads of State and Government
  4. General Assembly
Answer and explanation

A: Council of Ministers

Under the OAU Charter, the administrative secretary-general prepared the budget and the Council of Ministers approved it. This budgetary responsibility differed from the Assembly's wider supreme authority.

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Question 43

The major strategy used by OPEC to influence oil price is by

  1. allocating production quotas to members
  2. influencing buyers at the international market to buy at high prices
  3. allowing member countries to produce at their discretion
  4. increasing the supply of the commodity
Answer and explanation

A: allocating production quotas to members

Production quotas coordinate the amount of oil member countries aim to supply. Managing supply can influence market prices, although demand, non-member production and compliance also affect the result.

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Question 44

Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth in 1995 because of her

  1. tacit approval of military dictatorship
  2. negative position towards other nations
  3. complete negligence of freedom of the press
  4. violation of fundamental human rights
Answer and explanation

D: violation of fundamental human rights

The 1995 suspension followed serious breaches of Commonwealth principles, including human-rights violations and executions under military rule. It was not simply disagreement with other countries' policies.

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Question 45

Nigeria's non-aligned policy means that she

  1. not take sides in international issues based on ideological considerations
  2. have nothing to do with the superpowers
  3. avoid having any dealing with any country with ideological leanings
  4. relate only with member countries of the non - aligned movement
Answer and explanation

A: not take sides in international issues based on ideological considerations

Non-alignment means judging international issues independently rather than automatically supporting a bloc because of ideology. It does not prohibit relations with superpowers or with countries outside the movement.

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Question 47

Which of the following international organizations was in existence before the outbreak of the second world war?

  1. the OAU
  2. the League of Nations
  3. the UNO
  4. The ECOWAS
Answer and explanation

B: the League of Nations

The League of Nations was established after World War I and existed before World War II began in 1939. The UN, OAU and ECOWAS were all founded after that war began.

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Question 48

Which UN organ supervised the administration of territories placed under the international trusteeship system?

  1. General Assembly
  2. Security Council
  3. Economic and Social Council
  4. Trusteeship Council
Answer and explanation

D: Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council supervised trust territories' progress toward self-government or independence. The system covered specified territories, not every former colony of a defeated power.

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Question 49

One of the underlying principles of Nigerian foreign policy is

  1. encouragement of peacekeeping operations in Africa
  2. interference in the internal activities of other countries
  3. non-commitment towards African unity
  4. respect for sovereign equality of all states
Answer and explanation

D: respect for sovereign equality of all states

Respect for sovereign equality is a general principle governing relations between states. Peacekeeping is a particular policy activity, while interference and rejection of African unity contradict Nigeria's stated principles.

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