25 Post-UTME Government 2010 questions with verified answers and worked explanations. Here are the first 25 — sign up free to practise the full paper.
The Arthur Richards Constitution was designed to last
The Arthur Richards Constitution, which was introduced in 1946, was designed with a specific timeline for review. The plan was for the constitution to be reviewed in three stages, each lasting three years, making for a total intended lifespan of nine years. However, due to strong opposition from Nigerian nationalists, it was replaced by the Macpherson Constitution in 1951, long before the nine years were up.
Common mistake: Students might get confused between the *intended* lifespan of the constitution (nine years) and how long it was *actually* in force before being replaced (about five years).
Under the 1963 Republican constitution the president exercise
The 1963 Republican Constitution established a parliamentary system of government for Nigeria. In this system, the President was the Head of State, but their role was mostly ceremonial. The real executive power was held by the Prime Minister, who was the Head of Government, so the President exercised only nominal (or symbolic) powers.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'executive powers' because they confuse the 1963 parliamentary system with the current presidential system where the President is the chief executive.
The Clifford Constitution was notable for
The Clifford Constitution of 1922 is most notable for establishing a new Legislative Council that included elected Nigerian members for the first time. This elective principle, which allowed Lagos and Calabar to elect representatives, was a major step in Nigeria's political development. The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern provinces occurred earlier in 1914 under Lord Lugard.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option A because they confuse the 1922 Clifford Constitution with the 1914 amalgamation, which were two separate but important events in Nigeria's colonial history.
In a federal constitution, legislative powers that are shared by two levels of government are referred to as
In a federal system of government, powers are divided between the central government and the component units (like states). The concurrent legislative list specifies the areas where both the central government and the state governments can make laws. Since the question asks for powers that are shared, 'concurrent' is the correct term.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'exclusive', confusing shared powers with the powers that belong only to the central government.
During the period , Nigerian was governed under the
After gaining independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria adopted the British system of government, which is known as the parliamentary or Westminster system. This system was established by the 1960 Independence Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution. Under this model, the Prime Minister was the head of government, and this system remained in place until the first military coup in January 1966.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose the presidential system because that is the system Nigeria has used since 1979 and is more familiar to them.
Which of the following in the Sokoto Caliphate performed functions similar to that of the Bashorun in Oyo Kingdom?
In the pre-colonial Oyo Kingdom, the Bashorun was the head of the Oyomesi (kingmakers) and served as the prime minister, making him a very powerful chief. Similarly, in the Sokoto Caliphate, the Waziri was the prime minister and the most senior official who advised the Caliph and ran the administration. Therefore, the Waziri in the Sokoto Caliphate performed the most similar functions to the Bashorun in the Oyo Kingdom.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Galadima, another high-ranking official, but the Galadima was primarily in charge of the capital city, not the entire administration like the Waziri.
In the Igbo political system, the most senior member of the council of elders is the
This question is about the traditional political structure of the Igbo people before colonialism. In the decentralized Igbo political system, the 'Okpara' is the eldest male and the head of a lineage or kindred who presides over the council of elders. He holds the 'Ofo' staff, which is a symbol of his authority, justice, and ancestral connection.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'Obi' or 'Eze' because these are well-known titles for kings, but the 'Okpara' specifically refers to the head of the council of elders in the more common decentralized Igbo political structure.
A non-monarchial state can best be described as a
A non-monarchial state is a country that is not ruled by a monarch (a king or queen who inherits the position). A republic is defined as a state where the head of state is an elected or appointed official, like a president, rather than a hereditary ruler. Therefore, a non-monarchial state is best described as a republic. Other options like 'federation' and 'confederation' describe how power is shared between central and regional governments, not the type of head of state.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'federation' because Nigeria is a federal republic, but 'federation' describes the division of power, while 'republic' describes the non-monarchial nature of the head of state.
Proportional representation favours a
Proportional representation is an electoral system where the number of seats a party wins in the legislature is based on the percentage of total votes it receives. This system allows smaller parties that get a reasonable share of the votes to gain representation in the government. Because it gives a fair chance to many parties, it naturally encourages and supports a multi-party system.
Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose 'two-party system' because they are more familiar with the 'first-past-the-post' or 'winner-takes-all' system, which often leads to two dominant parties.
One major factor that differentiates the presidential from the parliamentary system is
The presidential system is built on the principle of separation of powers, meaning the executive (President), legislative (National Assembly), and judicial arms are distinct and independent. In the parliamentary system, there is a fusion of powers because the executive (Prime Minister and cabinet) is chosen from and is part of the legislature. This fundamental difference in the relationship between the executive and legislative branches is the main factor that distinguishes the two systems.
Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose 'judicial independence' because it is a vital democratic principle, but it is a feature found in both presidential and parliamentary systems, not a key difference between them.
A state with a hegemonic party is one in which
A hegemonic party system is a political system where multiple parties are legally allowed to exist, but one single party is so powerful that it dominates every election. This dominant party consistently holds power, making it almost impossible for any opposition party to win. Therefore, the key feature of a hegemonic party state is the presence of one dominant party.
Common mistake: Students often confuse a hegemonic party system with a one-party system (option C), but the difference is that other parties are legally permitted to exist in a hegemonic system, even if they cannot win.
In the First Republic, Politics in Northern Nigeria was dominated by:
During Nigeria's First Republic , the political system was based on strong regionalism, with major parties dominating specific regions. The Northern People's Congress (NPC), led by Sir Ahmadu Bello, was the ruling party in the Northern Region. It was formed to protect the interests of the North and controlled the regional government, making it the dominant political force in that area.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose NEPU because it was also a prominent party in the North, but it was the main opposition party to the ruling NPC, not the dominant one.
The creation of classless society is the ultimate aim of
Communism is a political and economic ideology that aims to create a society where there are no social classes, money, or state. According to Karl Marx, the father of communism, history is a story of class struggle, and the final stage of this struggle is a revolution that leads to a classless society. In this society, all property is owned by the community, and everyone contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose socialism because it is closely related to communism, but while socialism aims to reduce class differences, communism's ultimate and final goal is the complete elimination of all social classes.
Herbert Macaulay was the first president of
Herbert Macaulay, widely regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism, co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in 1944 alongside Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. At its inauguration, Herbert Macaulay was elected as the party's first president, while Azikiwe became its first general secretary. The NCNC was a leading nationalist organization that campaigned vigorously for Nigeria's independence from British colonial rule.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly associate Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as the first president because he became the more prominent leader of the NCNC, especially after Herbert Macaulay's death in 1946.
A special election organized to decide on a political issue is known as
A plebiscite, which is also called a referendum, is a direct vote where all eligible voters in a country are asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal or political issue. Unlike other elections where you vote for candidates to represent you, in a plebiscite, you vote 'Yes' or 'No' on a specific question. This makes it a special type of election specifically for deciding on an issue.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'by-election' because it is also a special election, but a by-election is held to fill a vacant legislative seat, not to decide on a political issue.
Equality before the law is a component of:
The rule of law is a principle which states that no one is above the law, and that government must be conducted according to the law. A key pillar of this principle is 'equality before the law', which means the law must apply to everyone in the same way, regardless of their status, wealth, or position. Therefore, equality before the law is a fundamental component of the rule of law.
Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose 'constitutional law' because principles of equality are often written in a country's constitution, but 'the rule of law' is the specific political principle that directly embodies the idea of equality for all under the law.
In the process of implementing laws, the executive sometimes performs:
The main job of the executive is to enforce or implement laws. However, in doing this, it sometimes needs to settle disputes or interpret the law for specific cases, which is a court-like duty. For example, an administrative panel set up by a ministry to handle a disciplinary case is performing a judicial function, as it involves hearing evidence and making a binding decision.
Common mistake: Students often confuse this with 'legislative function', thinking of delegated legislation, but the act of judging disputes or cases that arise from a law's implementation is a judicial role, not a law-making one.
Which of the these was the main organ of the defunct OAU?
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government was the supreme and most important organ of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). This body consisted of the leaders of all member states and held the ultimate authority to make final decisions on major policies and issues affecting the continent. All other organs, including the Council of Ministers, were subordinate to the Assembly and implemented its decisions.
Common mistake: Students might incorrectly choose the Council of Ministers because it was a very active and important body, but it was responsible for preparing the agenda for the Assembly, not for making the final, supreme decisions.
Nigeria hosted the commonwealth conference which eventually led to the independence of
The correct answer is Namibia. Nigeria's foreign policy has always had Africa as its main focus, a principle known as Afrocentrism. As a prominent member of the Commonwealth, Nigeria used its position to lead the fight against colonialism and apartheid, particularly in Southern Africa. The conference hosted in Nigeria was part of a larger diplomatic effort to pressure South Africa, which was illegally occupying Namibia, ultimately contributing to Namibia's independence in 1990.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose Zimbabwe because Nigeria also played a very prominent and well-known role in its independence struggle, making it easy to confuse the two historical events.
Multilaterism in Nigeria’s foreign policy entails
Multilateralism is a foreign policy principle where a country chooses to cooperate with several other nations to address global issues. The primary way countries do this is by joining and actively participating in international bodies. Therefore, for Nigeria, practicing multilateralism means being a member of organizations like the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), and ECOWAS to achieve its foreign policy goals.
Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option A because 'Africa as the centrepiece' is a well-known aspect of Nigeria's foreign policy, but this specific concept is called Afrocentrism, not multilateralism.
The ancient Greeks practiced:
In ancient Greek city-states, particularly Athens, all eligible citizens could gather to directly debate and vote on laws and policies themselves. This system, where citizens participate in decision-making without electing representatives, is the definition of direct democracy. This is different from modern democracies where we usually elect people to make laws on our behalf.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'representative democracy' because it is the common form of democracy today, but this involves electing officials, which is different from the direct participation of the ancient Greeks.
Fascism originated from
Fascism is a political ideology that became prominent in the early 20th century. It was first developed and put into practice in Italy by Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party after World War I. The term 'fascism' itself comes from the Italian word 'fascio,' meaning a bundle or group, which symbolizes strength through unity.
Common mistake: Many students mistakenly choose Germany because they associate fascism with Adolf Hitler, but his ideology was specifically Nazism, which was a German form of fascism that arose after Mussolini's original movement in Italy.
According to Karl Marx, the mode of production that precedes capitalism is
Karl Marx believed that societies develop through different economic stages, which he called modes of production. According to his theory of historical materialism, the stage of feudalism, where land was owned by lords and worked by serfs, came directly before the rise of capitalism. Capitalism emerged when the feudal system broke down and a new class of factory owners (bourgeoisie) began to employ a working class (proletariat).
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose socialism because Karl Marx is famous for promoting it, but in his theory, socialism is the stage that is meant to follow and replace capitalism, not precede it.
One of the distinctive features of a democracy is that it
A fundamental principle of democracy is providing citizens with choice and political competition. A one-party state, by its very nature, eliminates competition and forces everyone to follow a single political ideology, which is the opposite of democracy. Therefore, a distinctive feature of any true democracy is the existence of multiple political parties, meaning it cannot be a one-party state.
Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'facilitates popular participation' because it is a key democratic principle, but the existence of multiple parties is a more structurally defining and exclusive feature of democracy.
Serfs are the dominated class under
Feudalism was a social and political system in medieval times where land was the main source of power. In this system, society was divided into classes, with the serfs being the lowest class of peasants who were legally bound to work on the land owned by a lord. The serfs were the dominated class, providing labour and a share of their produce to the lord in exchange for military protection.
Common mistake: Students might confuse the dominated class in feudalism (serfs) with the dominated class in capitalism (the proletariat or working class), leading them to incorrectly choose capitalism.