WAEC Civic Education 2016 Past Questions & Answers

Orderliness is the quality of being neat, well-organized, and doing things in a correct and proper manner. The correct option, 'doing things in a proper way', is the best definition because it covers all aspects of orderly behaviour, from arranging items neatly to following rules and procedures. Being punctual or studying hard are examples of orderliness, but they do not define the entire concept.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option A, 'being punctual to work', because punctuality is a common example of orderly conduct, but it is only one specific instance and not the overall definition of the value.

The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act is the primary law in Nigeria for fighting human trafficking. This important law, which also created the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), was first passed and signed into law by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003. Therefore, August 2003 is the correct answer for when this foundational act was established.

Common mistake: Students may confuse the date with other important laws passed in the early 2000s, but the specific act against human trafficking was established in 2003.

Empowerment is the process of giving someone the skills, resources, and confidence to take control of their life and improve their situation. The question describes exactly this process of enabling a person to perform actions that add value to their life. Therefore, empowerment is the correct term for this definition.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'employment' because getting a job is a form of empowerment, but empowerment is a broader concept that includes skills acquisition and building confidence, not just being hired.

In Nigeria, the government is divided into three levels: Federal, State, and Local. Each level has its own specific responsibilities as defined in the constitution. The collection of rates, which are local taxes on things like shops, markets, and property, is one of the main functions assigned to the Local Government Councils. They use this money to provide basic services and development projects within their local areas.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) because it is a major tax agency, but the FIRS collects federal taxes, not local government rates.

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly organizes the roles of each level of government. The Fourth Schedule of this constitution is dedicated to listing the main functions and responsibilities of Local Government Councils. These duties include managing markets, motor parks, waste disposal, and participating in the provision of primary, adult, and vocational education.

Common mistake: Students often confuse the different schedules, and might incorrectly select federal or state government, whose powers are primarily detailed in the Second Schedule's Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative Lists.

Political apathy is the specific term used to describe a citizen's lack of interest or concern in political activities, such as voting, following political news, or participating in the political process. The question directly asks for the term that defines this lack of interest. Therefore, the correct answer is apathy.

Common mistake: Students might confuse apathy with 'ignorance', but while ignorance (lack of knowledge) can lead to apathy, apathy itself is the lack of interest or feeling, not just the lack of knowledge.

Civil society groups are organizations that work to influence government and society through peaceful and legal means. Their main goal is to promote positive change without breaking the law. Methods like propaganda, boycotts, and protests are all non-violent ways to express their opinions and pressure the government. Violence, however, is illegal and destructive, and it is not a legitimate tool for civil society groups to use.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Propaganda' because the word often has a negative meaning, but it is a valid tool used by civil society groups to spread their message and influence public opinion.

In a democracy, the public service (or civil service) is the main body responsible for executing the plans of the government. While the political class, like ministers and legislators, are the ones who formulate or create policies, the administrative class are the career officials who carry out or implement these policies on a day-to-day basis. Their primary role is to put the government's decisions into action.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'formulate policies' because they confuse the role of the administrative civil servants with that of the political executives (like ministers) who are actually responsible for creating government policy.

The phrase 'We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria' is the famous opening line of the preamble to the Nigerian Constitution. A preamble is an introduction that explains the purpose of the document and the source of its authority. In this case, it shows that the power to create the government and its laws comes directly from the citizens of Nigeria. The constitution itself is the supreme law that sets up the structure and functions of the government.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'government gazettes' because they are also official government publications, but they are used for announcing new laws and notices, not for establishing the entire framework of government.

A good citizen has certain duties and obligations they must perform for their country. One of the most important responsibilities is to serve the nation when required, for example, by participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or joining the armed forces. While enjoying government amenities is a right of a citizen, actively serving the country is a fundamental duty.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option B, confusing the rights and benefits of being a citizen (like enjoying amenities) with the duties and responsibilities required of them.

A naturalized citizen is someone who was not born in a country but has been legally granted citizenship. This citizenship can be taken away if the person commits a serious crime soon after acquiring it. The law sees this as evidence that the person may not be of good character, which was a requirement for getting the citizenship in the first place. Option A describes such a situation where being jailed within a few years of naturalization is a valid reason to lose citizenship status.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose option B because being a spy is a very serious act of disloyalty, which is also a valid reason to lose citizenship, but the question seeks one of the specific legal conditions which includes imprisonment for a crime.

Citizenship education teaches an individual about their country, including their rights and duties as a citizen. This knowledge is meant to build a sense of love, loyalty, and devotion towards one's nation. Being patriotic is the direct result of this feeling of love and loyalty, making it the primary influence of citizenship education.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose 'educated' because citizenship education is a form of learning, but the question asks for the specific character trait it develops, which is patriotism.

Orderliness means behaving in a proper, correct, and organized way, following the accepted standards in society. Listening skills, driving skills, and decorum are all examples of orderly behaviour because they involve following rules and showing respect. Deviance is the direct opposite of orderliness; it means behaving in a way that goes against the accepted rules and norms of society. Therefore, deviance is the correct answer as it is not an example of orderliness.

Common mistake: A common mistake is choosing 'Decorum' because the word is not common, but decorum actually means polite and orderly behaviour, making it a perfect example of orderliness.

The question asks for the statement that is not correct. It is very dangerous to wear a flowing garment like an agbada or a long gown while riding a motorcycle or bicycle. The clothing can easily get caught in the wheels or chain, which can cause a serious accident and injury. Therefore, the statement that you can wear such clothing is incorrect and a violation of road safety rules.

Common mistake: Students might misread the question and choose option D, 'Drivers must not engage in distractive activities while driving', because it is a true and important safety rule, forgetting the question asks for the statement that is *not* correct.

The best way to discourage cultism is through sensitization, which means educating people, especially youths, about its severe dangers. By making people aware of the negative consequences like violence, imprisonment, and death, they are less likely to join in the first place. This preventative approach is more effective than trying to solve the problem after someone has already joined a cult.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose option B, 'provision of jobs for cultists', because they link cultism to poverty, but this approach could be seen as rewarding negative behaviour and does not address the root causes for everyone.

Drug abuse refers to the harmful use of substances that affect a person's brain and behaviour. These substances can alter brain chemistry, leading to various mental health problems, with depression being a very common psychological consequence. While drug abuse can lead to inefficiency, depression is a more direct health-related outcome.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose 'Inefficiency' because drug abuse certainly makes a person less productive at school or work, but depression is a more direct and medically recognized health consequence.

Human trafficking is the act of illegally transporting people and forcing them to work or be used for another person's benefit. This process of taking unfair advantage of someone for profit or personal gain is called exploitation. Victims are often forced into labour, prostitution, or other forms of servitude, which are all forms of exploitation.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'exposure' because victims are taken to new places, but this is a negative experience that is part of their overall exploitation, not a positive benefit.

Cultism is seen as a major social problem in Nigeria because it involves secret, violent, and often criminal activities that harm individuals and disrupt society. Both the government, through laws and security actions, and the general public strongly condemn and reject it. The word 'abhorrence' means a feeling of intense hatred and disgust, which correctly describes this widespread negative attitude towards cultism.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'sympathy' because they feel sorry for the young people who are tricked into joining cults, but the question asks about the attitude towards the practice of cultism itself, which is hated.

Poverty often leads to hopelessness, stress, and a lack of opportunities, which are major reasons why people start abusing drugs to escape their problems. By reducing poverty, we create jobs, improve living conditions, and give people hope for the future. This makes them less likely to turn to drugs, effectively preventing drug abuse by addressing one of its root causes.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'reducing drugs in circulation' or 'legal sanction' because these are direct actions against drugs, but they focus on punishment and supply rather than preventing the demand for drugs in the first place.

Greed is the correct answer because it is the primary motivation for the traffickers themselves. While factors like hunger and joblessness make people vulnerable to being trafficked, it is the traffickers' excessive desire for money and profit that drives the entire criminal operation. They exploit the desperation of others for their own selfish financial gain, making greed the major cause of the problem.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose joblessness or hunger because these conditions make people desperate and easy targets, but they forget the question is asking for the major factor responsible for the crime itself, which is the trafficker's motivation.

Supporting People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) means helping them live healthy and productive lives without stigma. Providing antiretroviral drugs at a subsidized, or cheaper, rate is a key way to support them, as it makes life-saving treatment more affordable and accessible. The other options are incorrect because they either charge the person fully, which is not support, or stigmatize them through special clothes or separate housing.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D, thinking that providing accommodation is a form of support, without realizing that segregating PLWHA into designated locations is a form of discrimination and stigma.

Cult groups operate on an 'us versus them' principle, viewing anyone who opposes them or belongs to a rival group as an enemy. Their hostility is not random but is specifically directed at individuals or groups they perceive as threats or rivals. This is why their aggression is most accurately described as being towards 'perceived enemies'.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'all students' because cult activities happen on school campuses, but cultists typically target specific rivals or individuals, not the entire student body.

Drug law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), are responsible for fighting drug abuse and trafficking. Their duties include arresting suspects, prosecuting them in court, and helping to rehabilitate addicts. However, these agencies are not given the power to execute anyone, as this would be taking the law into their own hands. Only a competent court of law can sentence a person after they have been found guilty of a capital offence, which is a fundamental part of the rule of law.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D, thinking that rehabilitation is only done by hospitals, but the NDLEA Act actually empowers the agency to provide for the care and rehabilitation of drug addicts.

The correct answer is B because HIV/AIDS is not transmitted through saliva or by sharing eating utensils like spoons and plates. The virus is spread through contact with infected blood, semen, and other specific body fluids. Therefore, making victims use special cutlery is an unnecessary act of stigma and does not prevent the spread of the disease, unlike the other options which are valid prevention methods.

Common mistake: Students might get confused by the negative phrasing ('not a means') and pick an option that is a valid prevention method, such as A, because education is a very common and correct answer in many other questions.

Youth empowerment is the process of giving young people the skills, resources, and opportunities to take control of their lives and futures. The primary goal of this is to help them become independent and able to provide for themselves without relying on others. This state of being able to support oneself is called self-reliance.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'pursuit of higher education' because education is a form of empowerment, but youth empowerment is broader and also includes vocational skills for those who may not attend university.