JAMB Government 2022 Past Questions & Answers

In the pre-colonial Yoruba political system, the Oba was the supreme head of the kingdom and held the highest authority. He was both the political and spiritual leader, and his decisions were final, although he was often advised by a council of chiefs. While other bodies like the Oyomesi in the Oyo Empire had powers to check the Oba, the Oba's position as the sovereign ruler was paramount.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'Oyomesi' because this council had significant powers to check the Oba, but the Oba himself remained the highest single authority in the kingdom.

Nigeria is a country with many different ethnic groups, languages, and cultures. The federal system of government was chosen to allow these diverse groups to have some control over their local affairs while still remaining part of one united country. This principle of keeping different groups together in one nation is known as 'unity in diversity', making it the core philosophy behind Nigeria's federal structure.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'sectional development' because while federalism allows for regional development, the main philosophical reason for this is to manage the country's diverse groups within a single, unified nation.

According to the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, for an association to be registered as a political party, it must meet certain conditions. One of these key conditions is that the party must have its national headquarters located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This rule is designed to ensure that political parties have a national character and are not based on ethnic or regional interests.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose options B or C because they remember rules about having a national spread, but the specific constitutional requirement for registration is having a national headquarters in the FCT.

The United Nations (UN) Security Council is a major organ responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It is composed of 15 members, but only five of these are permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These five countries, often called the P5, hold special veto powers.

Common mistake: Students might confuse the number of permanent members with the total number of members on the council (15) or the number of non-permanent members (10).

The oversight function is a key responsibility of the legislature, which is the arm of government responsible for making laws. This function allows the legislature to monitor, review, and supervise the activities of the executive branch and its agencies to ensure they are working correctly and not abusing power. They do this through activities like investigations, committee hearings, and controlling the budget, which is a core part of the principle of checks and balances.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose the judiciary because it also checks the executive, but the judiciary's role is to interpret laws and rule on their constitutionality, not to perform the continuous supervision and investigation known as oversight.

Before the OAU was formed in 1963, newly independent African states were divided into two main ideological blocs. Nigeria was a prominent member of the Monrovia group, which advocated for a gradual approach to African unity, emphasizing cooperation between sovereign states. This contrasted with the Casablanca group, which pushed for a more radical and immediate political federation of all African states.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the Casablanca group because it is associated with strong Pan-Africanism, but they forget that Nigeria's First Republic government had a more conservative and cautious foreign policy.

Political rights are the rights that allow a citizen to participate in the political process and governance of their country. The right to vote is a primary political right because it enables citizens to choose their leaders and influence government decisions. Other options like the right to life and freedom of speech are classified as civil rights, which protect individuals from government interference, not rights for political participation.

Common mistake: Students may confuse political rights with civil rights, often choosing 'freedom of speech' because it is a well-known fundamental right, but it is primarily a civil liberty, whereas the right to vote is specifically for political participation.

The rule of law is a fundamental principle which states that everyone, including leaders and the government, must obey the law and that no one is above it. A key part of this principle is ensuring justice and fairness for all citizens. This means an accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty and must be given a fair hearing in a court to defend themselves before any judgment is passed.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option B, 'accused is a culprit before trial,' because they confuse the act of being accused with being guilty, which is the direct opposite of the legal principle of presumption of innocence.

The Clifford Constitution of 1922 is the correct answer because it established a new Legislative Council for the colony of Lagos and the Southern Protectorate. This was a major development as it introduced the elective principle for the first time in Nigeria's history. This allowed for the election of four Nigerians into the council, which was a significant step towards political participation.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose the Richards Constitution because it is famous for creating regional councils and bringing the North and South under one central legislature, but it was the earlier Clifford Constitution that first established the Legislative Council with elected members.

An absolute majority system is an electoral rule which requires a candidate to receive more than 50% (i.e., more than half) of the total valid votes cast to be declared the winner. This is precisely the condition described in the question. This system ensures that the winner has the support of a clear majority of the voters.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the plurality system, but this system only requires a candidate to get the highest number of votes, which can be less than 50%.