25 Post-UTME Government 2009 questions with verified answers and worked explanations. Here are the first 25 — sign up free to practise the full paper.
Traditional rulers were restricted to ceremonial rules by the local government reforms of
The correct answer is 1976 because this was the year the military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo introduced a nationwide, uniform local government reform. A key feature of this reform was to democratize the local government system by creating elected councils. This process stripped traditional rulers of their previous administrative and political powers, reducing their role to a largely ceremonial and advisory one within the new structure.
Common mistake: Students may confuse the 1976 reform with later reforms under the Babangida administration in the late 1980s, which also made significant changes to local government.
In a parliamentary system, who ensures that members are in the house to vote on major issues?
In a parliamentary system, the Whip is a party official appointed to maintain discipline among its members in the legislature. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that party members attend parliamentary sessions and vote according to the party's official policy. This is crucial for passing major laws or winning important votes.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose the Speaker of the House, but the Speaker's role is to preside over the house impartially, not to enforce voting attendance for a specific party.
A system in which no single person serves as the chief executive is know as
A parliamentary system is a system of government where the executive power is held by a cabinet of ministers, led by a Prime Minister. Unlike a presidential system where one person (the President) is the sole chief executive, in a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is considered 'first among equals' and shares executive power with the cabinet. Therefore, there is no single person who serves as the chief executive in the way a president does.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Republican' because they associate it with any non-monarchical government, but a republic can have a single, powerful chief executive like a president.
A social system in which power is derived from control over land is called
Feudalism is a system of government where power and wealth are based on the ownership and control of land. In this system, a king or powerful lord would grant land to lesser lords, called vassals, who in return promised loyalty and military service. Therefore, the entire social and political structure was built on who controlled the land, making it the correct answer.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Oligarchy because it means 'rule by a few powerful people,' but the key detail in the question is that power comes specifically from 'control over land,' which is the definition of feudalism.
“Rule of law” refers to situations in which
The 'Rule of law' is a fundamental principle which states that a country is governed by laws, not by the personal decisions of its leaders. This means the law is the highest authority in the land, and everyone, from the president to the ordinary citizen, is subject to and equal before it. Therefore, the core meaning of the rule of law is that the law is supreme.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'the judiciary is independent' because an independent judiciary is a necessary condition to enforce the rule of law, but it is not the definition of the principle itself.
An important principle of the civil service is
Anonymity is a key principle of the civil service, meaning that civil servants are expected to work without being publicly identified. They give advice and carry out policies in the background, while the political head of the ministry (like a Minister) takes the public credit or blame. This principle ensures that the civil service remains neutral and can serve any government in power, regardless of its political party.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'partisanship' because they see civil servants working for a government run by a political party, but the civil service is meant to be neutral and serve the state, not the party in power.
Which of these constitutions recognized local government is the third tier of government?
The 1979 Constitution is the correct answer because it was the first in Nigeria's history to formally establish local government as a distinct third tier of government. This constitution provided for the functions, structure, and funding of local governments, giving them a guaranteed status within the Nigerian federal system. Before 1979, local governments were largely under the full control of regional or state governments without such constitutional backing.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose the 1963 constitution because it made Nigeria a republic, but the specific recognition of local government as a third tier was a key feature of the later 1979 constitution.
A condition for judicial indolence is the appointment of judges by the
This question is about ensuring judicial independence, which means judges should be free from political pressure when making decisions. The Judicial Service Commission is an independent body specifically created to handle the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges. Appointing judges through this commission helps to protect the judiciary from interference by the executive or legislative arms of government, ensuring that legal rulings are based on law and not political influence.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose the Civil Service Commission because it is also a major government appointment body, but it is responsible for appointing civil servants, not judges who belong to the separate judicial arm of government.
The minorities Commission appointed in Nigeria in 1957 recommended that
The Minorities Commission, also known as the Willink Commission, was established in 1957 to investigate the fears of minority ethnic groups about being dominated by the majority groups after independence. After its investigation, the commission concluded that creating new states would cause more problems and delay independence. Instead of creating states, it recommended that fundamental human rights be included in the constitution to protect all citizens, leading to its recommendation that no new states should be created before independence.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option A because the commission was formed to address minority demands for states, so they assume it would recommend creating them.
The second military coup data in Nigeria took place on
Nigeria's first military coup occurred on January 15, 1966, and brought General Aguiyi-Ironsi to power. The second coup, which was a counter-coup led mainly by northern officers, took place on July 29, 1966. This event led to the overthrow and death of General Aguiyi-Ironsi and brought Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon into power as the new Head of State.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose January 15, 1966, because they confuse the date of the second coup with the date of the very first military coup in Nigeria.
One of these was in existence before the outbreak of the Second World War
The correct answer is the League of Nations because it was formed in 1920, right after the First World War, to promote international peace. The Second World War started later, in 1939. Therefore, the League of Nations was the only organization among the options that existed before the Second World War began. The OAU was formed in 1963 and the modern Commonwealth in 1949, both after the war.
Common mistake: Students sometimes confuse the League of Nations with the United Nations (UN), which was formed after the Second World War to replace the League.
In important advantage of creating more constituents in a federal state is to
The correct option is A. Creating more constituent units, like states or local governments, in a federal system like Nigeria brings the government closer to the people at the grassroots level. This closeness makes it easier for citizens to access their representatives, participate in decision-making, and hold leaders accountable. By reducing the size of administrative units, it encourages more direct involvement from the populace in their own governance.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option C, thinking that more states equals more power for states, but creating more, smaller states can actually make each individual state weaker and more dependent on the central government.
Under the Presidential system
In a presidential system, the President is the head of the executive arm and is elected separately from the legislature (the law-making body). Because of this separate election, the President's political party does not need to have the most seats in the legislature. Therefore, it is entirely possible for the President to come from a different party than the one controlling the legislative houses.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option A because they confuse the presidential system with the parliamentary system, where the executive is indeed formed by the party with the majority in the legislature.
Public opinion is important because it
Public opinion represents the collective views of citizens on matters of public interest. Its main importance in a democracy is to serve as a channel of communication, informing the government about the needs, feelings, and preferences of the people. By understanding what the people want, the government can make more popular and effective decisions.
Common mistake: Students may wrongly select option A, but public opinion only influences or suggests what the government should do; it does not have the authority to command or force the government to take a specific action.
Bicameral legislature exists
A bicameral legislature is a law-making body with two chambers or houses, like Nigeria's Senate and House of Representatives. The main purpose of this structure is to ensure laws are carefully considered before they are passed. By having a bill debated and approved in two separate houses, it allows for more scrutiny, review, and amendment, which helps to prevent hasty decisions and ultimately leads to better and more just laws for the country.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option B, as preventing the concentration of power is a valid function of a bicameral system, but the primary goal of this check is to improve the quality and justice of the laws being made.
Africans were first elected to the legislature council in British West African
The correct answer is Nigeria. This is because the Clifford Constitution of 1922, which was introduced in Nigeria, was the first to establish the elective principle in British West Africa. This constitution created a Legislative Council and allowed for the election of four Africans, with three representing Lagos and one representing Calabar.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Ghana because it was also a leading British colony and gained independence earlier, but the elective principle was first introduced in Nigeria's 1922 constitution.
One of the functions of the ministry of External Affairs is the
The Ministry of External Affairs, now called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the government body in charge of Nigeria's relationships with other countries. Its main purpose is to protect and advance Nigeria's goals and values on the world stage. This broad objective, which covers economic, security, and cultural goals, is known as promoting the national interest.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'Issuance of passports' because embassies abroad perform this function, but the primary agency responsible for passports within Nigeria is the Nigeria Immigration Service, which is under the Ministry of Interior.
The leader of the northern people’s congress was
The Northern People's Congress (NPC) was a major political party formed in 1951 that played a key role in Nigeria's journey to independence. Its founder and leader was Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. While he led the party, he remained the Premier of the Northern Region, while his deputy, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, became Nigeria's first Prime Minister.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose Abubakar Tafawa Balewa because he was the Prime Minister of Nigeria, but he was the deputy leader of the NPC, not the overall party leader.
The idea of democracy started with the
The correct answer is the Greeks because the term 'democracy' itself originates from the Greek language. It combines the words 'demos', which means 'the people', and 'kratos', which means 'rule' or 'power'. The ancient city-state of Athens in Greece is widely credited with developing the first system of direct democracy, where citizens participated directly in government.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose the Romans because they also had a significant ancient civilization with contributions to law, but it was the Greeks who pioneered the concept and practice of democracy.
In the Marxist theory, those who live by selling, their labour are called
In the political ideology of Marxism, Karl Marx described society as being divided into two main classes. The Proletariat are the working-class people who do not own the means of production (like factories, land, or tools) and must sell their labour to the owners to survive. The Bourgeoisie are the capitalist class who own these means of production and employ the workers.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'Bourgeoisie' because it is the other major class in Marxist theory, but it refers to the owners of capital and property, not the workers who sell their labour.
Which of the following NOT an acceptable means of achieving democracy?
Democracy is a system of government that relies on peaceful, orderly, and lawful processes. Referendum, recall, and initiative are all acceptable democratic tools that allow citizens to directly participate in governance and hold their leaders accountable. However, riots are violent, illegal, and disorderly acts that go against the rule of law, which is a fundamental principle of democracy.
Common mistake: A student might be unfamiliar with terms like 'Initiative' or 'Recall' and wrongly assume one of them is the answer, but 'Riots' is clearly a violent and unlawful act, which is the opposite of a democratic process.
The branch of government responsible for implementing laws is the
In government, power is divided among three arms to prevent any single one from becoming too powerful. The Legislature makes the laws, and the Judiciary interprets the laws. The Executive branch, headed by the President or Governor and including ministers and the civil service, is responsible for carrying out or 'implementing' the laws made by the legislature.
Common mistake: Students sometimes confuse the Executive's role of implementing laws with the Legislature's role of making laws, or they incorrectly choose the Police, which is only one agency within the larger Executive branch.
In a democracy, sovereignty is vested in
Sovereignty refers to the ultimate or supreme power in a state. In a democracy, which is a government of the people, this supreme power is held by the citizens collectively, who form the community. The people exercise this power by electing their representatives and holding them accountable through elections.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'the head of state' because they are a visible symbol of authority, but in a democracy, their power is only delegated to them by the people and is not absolute.
Universal Adult Suffrage means all
Universal Adult Suffrage is the right of all adult citizens to vote in elections. The term 'universal' means it applies to everyone, and 'adult' specifies the age requirement, which is usually 18 in Nigeria. This right is not restricted by gender, wealth, religion, or level of education, which is why it simply means all adult citizens can vote.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'Qualified citizens can vote' because they know there are some requirements like age, but this option can be misleading as historically, 'qualifications' meant restrictive criteria like property or literacy tests, which universal suffrage abolished.
A bill that applies to the whole population and is intended to promote the general welfare is called
A public bill is a proposed law that concerns matters of general public interest and applies to the entire population of a country. The question describes a bill for the 'whole population' and 'general welfare,' which is the exact definition of a public bill. In contrast, a private bill affects only a specific individual, organization, or locality.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'a private bill' because they confuse it with a public bill, not realizing that a private bill applies only to a specific person or group, not the general public.