JAMB Government 2002

21 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 6

The structure of the civil service is based on

  1. lateral organisation
  2. merit system
  3. patronage system
  4. hierarchical organisation
Answer and explanation

D: hierarchical organisation

Civil-service structure is hierarchical: offices are arranged in levels of authority and responsibility. Merit concerns recruitment or promotion, rather than the organizational chain itself.

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Question 9

The final interpretation of the provisions of a federal constitution is vested in the

  1. head of state
  2. council of state
  3. highest legislative body
  4. highest court of the land.
Answer and explanation

D: highest court of the land.

The highest competent court gives the final judicial interpretation of constitutional provisions. This enables constitutional disputes between levels of government to be resolved through legal adjudication.

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Question 11

Proportional representation is a system of allocating seats in the legislature based on

  1. gender participation in politics
  2. an area’s involvement in politics
  3. contribution to the national economy
  4. total votes in an election
Answer and explanation

D: total votes in an election

Proportional representation allocates legislative seats in relation to the votes won by competing parties or groups. Seat shares broadly follow electoral support rather than economic contributions or geographic involvement.

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Question 14

Oligarchy is a form of government which

  1. enhances the interest of the ruling few
  2. enhances the electoral chances of the majority
  3. disregards the views of the minority
  4. protects the interest of the common people
Answer and explanation

A: enhances the interest of the ruling few

Oligarchy is government by a small group and commonly advances that ruling groups interests. It contrasts with broad popular control of government.

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Question 16

Centralization of power is the basic feature of

  1. federalism
  2. a confederation
  3. a presidential system
  4. a unitary government
Answer and explanation

D: a unitary government

A unitary government concentrates ultimate constitutional authority at the national centre. Federalism divides powers constitutionally, while confederations leave substantial authority with member states.

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Question 20

The principle of checks and balances reinforces separation of powers in order to

  1. protect the powers of the executive
  2. make the legislature more powerful
  3. prevent an unconstitutional change of government
  4. prevent the emergence of dictatorship
Answer and explanation

D: prevent the emergence of dictatorship

Checks and balances enable institutions to restrain one another and prevent excessive concentration of power. Combined with separation of powers, they reduce the risk of dictatorship.

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Question 21

Legislative control of public corporations in Nigeria is effected through

  1. the dissolution of their management
  2. the reorganization of their boards
  3. acts of the National Assembly
  4. byelaws
Answer and explanation

C: acts of the National Assembly

The legislature controls federal public corporations through enabling Acts and amendments that define their powers and accountability. Management decisions are a separate aspect of administration.

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Question 22

The Ibadan Conference of 1950 was convened to discuss the provisions of the

  1. Macpherson Constitution
  2. Clifford Constitution
  3. Lyttelton Constitution
  4. Richards Constitution
Answer and explanation

A: Macpherson Constitution

The 1950 Ibadan Conference formed part of the consultations that produced the Macpherson Constitution of 1951. It discussed the proposed constitutional arrangements before they came into force.

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Question 26

The body set up to review the revenue allocation formula in 1980 was the

  1. Udoji Commission
  2. Okigbo Commission
  3. Dina Commission
  4. Adebo Commission
Answer and explanation

B: Okigbo Commission

The Okigbo Commission reviewed revenue allocation in 1980. Its recommendations addressed both the division among government levels and the criteria for sharing among states.

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Question 27

In pre-colonial Igbo society, decisions on public issues were reached mainly through

  1. the oracles
  2. consensus
  3. imposition
  4. majority votes
Answer and explanation

B: consensus

In the village-assembly model of Igbo government, participants discussed public matters to reach a consensus. This describes the assembly process rather than a rule imposed by one ruler.

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Question 29

The constitution that introduced restricted franchise into Nigerian politics was the

  1. Independence Constitution
  2. Lyttelton Constitution
  3. Richards Constitution
  4. Clifford Constitution
Answer and explanation

D: Clifford Constitution

The Clifford Constitution introduced limited elections in Lagos and Calabar. Its restricted franchise is distinguished from universal voting rights extended to all eligible adults.

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Question 33

The main function of the Code of Conduct Bureau is to

  1. ensure accountability in government business
  2. give the judiciary more powers to discipline erring judges
  3. protect public officers from the press
  4. give the police more powers to make arrests
Answer and explanation

A: ensure accountability in government business

The Code of Conduct Bureau promotes public accountability through duties such as receiving asset declarations and monitoring compliance with conduct requirements. It does not exist to shield officials from scrutiny.

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Question 36

One major factor that differentiates the presidential from the parliamentary system is

  1. separation of powers
  2. judicial independence
  3. passage of bills
  4. party system
Answer and explanation

A: separation of powers

Presidential government institutionally separates the executive from the legislature. Parliamentary government normally draws the executive from parliament and makes it accountable to parliamentary confidence.

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Question 37

The main legislative body in Nigeria between 1966 and 1975 was the

  1. Supreme Military Council
  2. Armed Forces Ruling Council
  3. Provisional Ruling Council
  4. National Security Council
Answer and explanation

A: Supreme Military Council

The Supreme Military Council was the principal ruling and legislative body during this period of military government. The Armed Forces Ruling Council and Provisional Ruling Council belonged to later administrations.

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Question 41

The group of states that conceived the idea of the United Nations Organization included

  1. the USSR, Italy, the UK and China
  2. Italy, the UK, France and Japan
  3. the USA, the USSR, the UK and China
  4. France, the USA, Canada and Japan
Answer and explanation

C: the USA, the USSR, the UK and China

The United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and China developed proposals for the future UN through the Dumbarton Oaks talks. Their consultations helped prepare the organization's framework.

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Question 44

Which of the following is a founding member of OPEC?

  1. Nigeria
  2. Indonesia
  3. Venezuela
  4. Algeria
Answer and explanation

C: Venezuela

Venezuela was one of OPEC's five founding members in 1960, alongside Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Nigeria, Indonesia and Algeria joined later.

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Question 45

In 2002, Ibrahim Gambari was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on

  1. African affairs
  2. political and social matters
  3. the Economic Commission of Africa
  4. security matters
Answer and explanation

A: African affairs

Ibrahim Gambari served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Africa from 1999 to 2005. The office concerned African affairs, distinct from his later responsibilities in other UN posts.

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Question 46

Who among the following served as Secretary General of OPEC?

  1. Jibril Aminu
  2. Aret Adams
  3. Dan Etete
  4. Rilwanu Lukman
Answer and explanation

D: Rilwanu Lukman

Rilwanu Lukman served as OPEC Secretary General from 1995 to 2000. The other listed Nigerian petroleum officials did not hold that specific office.

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Question 47

Nigeria's active role in the liberation of some countries in Southern Africa earned her

  1. the chairmanship of the Eminent Persons Group
  2. membership of SADC
  3. recognition as the giant of Africa
  4. the status of a frontline state
Answer and explanation

D: the status of a frontline state

Nigeria was described as a frontline state because of its support for liberation in Southern Africa. This was a political designation despite its geographical distance from the region.

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Question 48

Which of these international agencies is Nigeria a member of?

  1. London Club
  2. The Infrastructural Development Fund
  3. The Paris Club
  4. The International Monetary Fund.
Answer and explanation

D: The International Monetary Fund.

Nigeria is a member of the International Monetary Fund. The Paris and London Clubs are creditor arrangements; a debtor country negotiating with them is not thereby a member of those creditor groups.

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Question 49

Nigeria's membership of the ECOWAS is informed by her desire to

  1. develop a market in the sub-region
  2. form a sub-regional high command
  3. become a sub-regional power
  4. promote economic integration
Answer and explanation

D: promote economic integration

Promoting regional economic integration is the broad purpose of Nigeria's ECOWAS membership. Developing a regional market is one element of that wider objective rather than the whole integration programme.

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