JAMB Government 2008 Past Questions & Answers

The Commonwealth of Nations is an association mostly made up of former British colonies. However, some countries without historical ties to the British Empire have been admitted. Mozambique, which was a Portuguese colony, is one such example, joining in 1995 due to its close relationship with its Commonwealth neighbours. The other options—Malaysia, Uganda, and Jamaica—were all colonized by Britain.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly believe that only former British colonies can be members of the Commonwealth, leading them to ignore Mozambique as a possibility.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was established in September 1960 at a conference held in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. This historic meeting brought together the five founding members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The main goal was to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose Caracas because Venezuela was a very influential founding member, but the actual founding conference took place in Baghdad, Iraq.

ECOWAS has been very active in promoting political stability and democratic governance across West Africa. The organization often intervenes to mediate in political crises and has taken strong positions against military coups in member states. These efforts to ensure stable governments and peaceful transitions of power are key aspects of fostering political unity in the region.

Common mistake: Students often choose 'security and defence' because they remember ECOMOG's military interventions, but these security actions were tools used to achieve the main political goal of restoring democratic order and regional unity.

The question asks to identify countries where the United Nations (UN) has conducted peace-keeping operations. The UN is a major international organisation whose functions include maintaining global peace and security. The UN has historically deployed significant peace-keeping forces to conflict zones in Cyprus, Somalia, and the former Yugoslavia to help manage and resolve conflicts.

Common mistake: Students might be tempted to choose option D because it includes the Congo and Nigeria, both African nations that have experienced conflict, but the UN has not carried out a peacekeeping operation in Nigeria.

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government was the supreme and highest decision-making body of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). It consisted of the leaders of all member countries who met to decide on the most important policies and actions of the organization. While other bodies like the Council of Ministers were important, they were subordinate to the Assembly and implemented its decisions.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the Council of Ministers because it was the executive body responsible for preparing the Assembly's agenda, but the Assembly of Heads of State and Government was the supreme and highest-ranking organ.

The civil service is the professional body of officials that carries out the day-to-day work of the government. A fundamental characteristic of an ideal civil service is the merit system, which ensures that recruitment and promotion are based on an individual's skills, qualifications, and performance rather than political connections or favouritism. This principle promotes efficiency, competence, and professionalism within the government's administrative machinery.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'quota system' because they confuse the Nigerian Federal Character Principle, which is a form of quota system, with the universal and ideal characteristic of a professional civil service.

Oligarchy is a form of government where power is held by a small, wealthy, or powerful elite. It is considered a perverted or corrupt form of democracy because true democracy means 'rule by the people,' where everyone has a say. In an oligarchy, the government is run for the benefit of this small group, not for the good of all citizens.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Monarchy because it is not democratic, but Monarchy is a distinct form of government (rule by one) rather than a corrupted version of democracy (rule by many).

An unwritten constitution is a type of constitution that is not contained in a single, formal document but is made up of various sources like Acts of Parliament, court judgments, and political conventions. Britain is the most famous example of a country that operates with an unwritten constitution. Countries like India, Canada, and France all have a single, codified document that serves as their written constitution.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Canada because of its historical ties to Britain, but Canada, like most countries, adopted a formal written constitution.

A fascist state is a form of government where a dictator has total power and forcibly suppresses all opposition and criticism. In such a system, the idea of different political parties competing for power is completely rejected as it is seen as a source of division. Therefore, all political parties are banned, creating a situation where no parties are allowed to exist, which is known as a zero-party system.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'one-party system' because fascist states like Nazi Germany are famously run by a single, dominant party; however, the complete ban on all political competition is the defining feature, which aligns with the concept of a zero-party system.

Franchise is the specific term for the legal right given to a citizen to vote in an election. When you express your electoral preference, you are simply choosing who you want to represent you, which is the act of voting. Therefore, the right that allows you to do this is called the franchise.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'suffrage' because it is a very close synonym for franchise, but in the context of JAMB questions, 'franchise' is the more precise term for the legal right to vote.