JAMB Government 2021 Past Questions & Answers

Under Nigeria's 1963 Republican Constitution, the country practiced a parliamentary system of government. In this system, there was a separation between the Head of State, who was the ceremonial President, and the Head of Government, who was the Prime Minister with executive powers. In 1963, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the Prime Minister and therefore the Head of Government.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe because he was the President, confusing the ceremonial role of Head of State with the executive role of Head of Government.

In May 1967, General Yakubu Gowon, who was the Head of the Federal Military Government, issued a decree that restructured Nigeria from four regions into twelve states. This was a major political decision made just before the Nigerian Civil War. The creation of states was intended to weaken the secessionist movement in the Eastern Region by giving minority ethnic groups their own states.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu because he was a prominent figure at the time, but he was the governor of the Eastern Region who opposed the creation of states and subsequently led the Biafran secession.

Plutocracy is the correct term for a government where the wealthy class rules. The word comes from the Greek 'ploutos' meaning wealth, and 'kratos' meaning rule or power. Therefore, a system of government controlled by the rich is known as a plutocracy.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose Oligarchy because it means rule by a few, but while a plutocracy is a type of oligarchy, the term 'plutocracy' specifically refers to rule based on wealth.

The correct option is B because Professor Ibrahim Gambari, a prominent Nigerian diplomat, was appointed as the Special Assistant to the UN Secretary-General specifically on African Affairs. In this capacity, he was the main advisor on political and security issues concerning the African continent. This question tests knowledge of Nigeria's role and the positions its citizens have held in major international organizations like the United Nations.

Common mistake: Students may incorrectly choose 'Security matters' because his work involved security, but his official title and specific portfolio were geographically focused on the continent of Africa.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed in September 1960 by five founding members. These countries were Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Therefore, among the choices given, only Venezuela was part of this original group that established the organization.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose Nigeria because it is a well-known and influential member of OPEC, but Nigeria only joined the organization in 1971, not at its founding.

The Code of Conduct Bureau is a government agency established to maintain a high standard of morality and honesty in the public service. Its primary function is to receive asset declarations from public officers and enforce the code of conduct, which helps to prevent corruption. This entire process is designed to ensure that those in government are accountable for their actions and wealth.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option C, confusing the Code of Conduct Bureau's role with that of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which is the specific body responsible for disciplining judges.

The first military coup in Nigeria that overthrew a civilian government was in January 1966, which ended the First Republic. The second time a civilian government was toppled by the military was in December 1983, which brought an end to the Second Republic under President Shehu Shagari. Therefore, the two correct dates are January 1966 and December 1983.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose options with other famous coup dates, like July 1966 or July 1975, forgetting that the question specifically asks for coups that toppled *civilian* regimes, not other military governments.

According to Section 8 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, the power to create a new local government area rests with the state. The process is initiated by the State House of Assembly, which must pass a bill supported by a two-thirds majority of its members. Therefore, the State Assembly is the correct body vested with this primary power.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the National Assembly because it is involved in the final step of making a consequential provision to list the new LGA in the constitution, but the initial power to create the LGA lies with the State Assembly.

The correct answer is the 1979 Constitution. This constitution, which ushered in the Second Republic, was the first in Nigeria's history to include a chapter on Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. These principles are the goals and duties of the government, outlining its responsibilities in areas like social welfare, economic development, and foreign policy to guide the state's actions.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the 1999 Constitution because it is the current one and also contains these principles, but the question asks which constitution *first* introduced them.

Local governments in Nigeria are empowered to generate their own revenue to carry out their functions. One of their main sources of revenue is collecting fees from commercial activities within their jurisdiction, like those at motor parks. These officially imposed charges are known as levies, which are a recognized source of revenue for local government councils.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'User charge' because the fee is for using the motor park, but 'Levies' is the more appropriate and official term for such fees imposed by a government authority like a local council.

The Macpherson Constitution of 1951 was unique because it involved extensive consultation with Nigerians before it was enacted. A series of discussions were held at various levels, from villages to regions, which all led to the national conference in Ibadan in 1950. This conference was specifically organised to review all the proposals and finalize the draft of what became the Macpherson Constitution.

Common mistake: Students may wrongly select the Richards Constitution because its failures prompted the need for a new one, but the Ibadan Conference was part of the process to create the *new* Macpherson Constitution, not to discuss the old one.

The rule of law is a principle which states that all citizens and even the government are subject to the law and must obey it. A major function of this principle is to protect the fundamental rights of individuals from being violated by those in power. Therefore, when the rule of law is absent, there is nothing to stop the government from acting without limits, leading directly to the abuse of human rights.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose 'Corrupt practices' because a lack of rule of law does enable corruption, but human rights abuse is the more direct and fundamental consequence of a system where no one is protected by law.

The main purpose of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is to promote economic cooperation and integration among its members. A key achievement in this area is the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which reduces taxes and other barriers on goods traded between member states. This policy has successfully encouraged and increased the volume of trade among the member nations.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Free movement of persons and right of residence' because the ECOWAS protocol on this is very famous, but they may overlook that its implementation has faced more practical challenges than the progress made in increasing trade.

Nigeria's foreign policy during the 1970s and 1980s had Africa as its centerpiece, with a primary goal of ending apartheid in South Africa. In 1986, Nigeria led a boycott of the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh to protest the British government's refusal to impose strong economic sanctions against the racist apartheid regime. This action was a significant diplomatic move to pressure Britain and further isolate South Africa on the world stage.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option C, confusing the timeline of events; the issue of Rhodesia's independence was largely resolved by 1980, whereas the 1986 boycott was specifically about the apartheid policy in South Africa.

During the Nigerian Civil War $(1967-1970)$, the Nigerian Federal Government was officially supported by countries like Great Britain and the Soviet Union. France was the only major world power that provided significant moral and material support to the secessionist state of Biafra. This support was driven by France's strategic interest in weakening a large, English-speaking country in a region with many French-speaking nations.

Common mistake: Many students mistakenly choose Great Britain because of its colonial ties to Nigeria, but Britain actually supported the Nigerian Federal Government to keep the country united.

This question tests knowledge of key figures in Nigeria's diplomatic history, which is a core part of its foreign policy. The Permanent Representative is the country's chief ambassador to the United Nations. General Joseph Garba, who also served as a Minister of External Affairs, was a prominent diplomat who held this position and is identified as the correct answer.

Common mistake: Students often confuse the different prominent individuals who have held this post, and might incorrectly select Chief Simeon Adebo, who was another very significant and early Nigerian representative to the UN.

In the late 1970s, under the military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's foreign policy was strongly 'Afrocentric', meaning it prioritized African issues. A key part of this policy was the total opposition to the racist apartheid system in South Africa. To put pressure on the apartheid government, Nigeria took strong actions against companies that did business with it, leading to the nationalization of Barclay's Bank and British Petroleum (BP) for their dealings with South Africa.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Portugal, remembering Nigeria's support for independence movements in Portuguese colonies, but this specific nationalization was a direct action against companies supporting the apartheid regime in South Africa.

In 1976, the military administration of General Murtala Muhammed created seven new states in Nigeria to promote development and bring government closer to the people. Before this exercise, Nigeria had 12 states, which were created by the Yakubu Gowon regime in 1967. Adding seven new states to the existing twelve brought the total number of states to 19.

Common mistake: Students often confuse this with the state creation exercise under General Yakubu Gowon, who increased the number of states from 4 regions to 12 states in 1967.

The National Defence Council is the correct answer because its primary function, as stated in the Nigerian Constitution, is to advise the President on matters concerning the defence of the country. This specifically includes protecting Nigeria's sovereignty and its borders (territorial integrity). The council helps the President make important decisions about the armed forces and national defense policy.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the National Security Council because its name sounds similar, but it primarily advises on internal security matters, not the broader defence of national sovereignty.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the official body in charge of elections in Nigeria. A key part of its job is to create and manage the official list of all citizens who are qualified and registered to vote. This list is known as the voters' register, and it is essential for conducting any free and fair election.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Political parties' because they know INEC registers them, but the commission's core duty is to prepare and maintain the comprehensive list of individual voters.

Before Nigeria became a republic in 1963, it operated under the 1960 Independence Constitution. Under this constitution, Nigeria was still a dominion within the British Commonwealth, and the final court of appeal was the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council based in London. Although Nigeria had its own Supreme Court, its decisions could be appealed to the Privy Council, making the Privy Council the highest judicial body for Nigeria at that time.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the Supreme Court because it is the highest court in Nigeria today, forgetting that this was not the case before the 1963 Republican Constitution.

The main difference between a political party and a pressure group is their primary goal or objective. A political party's main objective is to contest elections in order to win political power and control the government. On the other hand, a pressure group's objective is simply to influence government policies and decisions on specific issues, without seeking to form a government.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Ideology' because political parties often have broad ideologies, but the most fundamental difference lies in the ultimate goal of seeking power versus only influencing policy.

At independence in 1960, Nigeria operated a parliamentary system of government as a Commonwealth realm, based on the Independence Constitution of 1960. Under this system, the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, was the ceremonial Head of State. The Queen was represented in Nigeria by the Governor-General, while the Prime Minister was the Head of Government with executive powers. This arrangement lasted until 1963 when Nigeria became a republic.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'Governor-General' because he was the Queen's representative in Nigeria, but the Governor-General was not the ultimate Head of State.

The Second World War was a major turning point for African nationalists. Many Africans fought in the war for the freedom of others and saw that Europeans were not invincible. This experience, combined with the war's ideals of self-determination, boosted their confidence and morale, inspiring them to demand full independence for their own countries rather than just asking for small reforms.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option C because the war did weaken colonial powers, but option D better explains the direct change in the nationalists' own mindset and demands.

The correct answer is 'Divide and rule'. This was a political strategy used by the British colonialists where they exploited the differences among the various ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria. By keeping the groups separate and sometimes in conflict with each other, the British made it easier to control the entire region without facing a united opposition.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Trade association' because trade was a major part of British activities, but it was a commercial activity, not the political strategy used to govern the people.