2003 - JAMB Government Past Questions and Answers - page 1

Public opinion becomes politically relevant when it influences the decisions of government.

Some functions of public opinion are as follows:

1. It directs government to know what the public think about its policies and actions.

2. It helps the government to know the needs and aspirations of its citizens.

3. It brings about the formulation of policies and taking actions that are in the best interest of majority of the citizens.

4. It provides valuable information about those contesting elections. This on condition that the election is free and fair.

5. It helps the voters to cast their votes for popular candidates.

Public opinion is then said to be relevant if it causes any or some of the points raised above to take place especially number 1,2 and 3 points.

Socialism is a mode of production based on state ownership of means of production.

Socialism is an economic and political ideology in which there is collective ownership and control of the means of production, distribution and exchange by the state in the interest of the people.

From the definition, it should be noted that the state controls the means of production, distribution and exchange.

A look at some of the features of socialism will also establish the state ownership of means of production and they are as follows:

1. There is usually a single recognized political party.

2. The economy is centrally planned and controlled

3. Factories, land and other means of production are owned by the state

4. It encourages equality, social justice and provision of welfare services.

The civil service embraces all workers in government ministries.

The civil service may therefore be defined as body of officials who carry out the day to day business of government. They are skilled and permanent. They are also paid from the consolidated fund either partly or wholly.

Prorogation (pronounced 'pro-ro-ga-tion') marks the end of a parliamentary session. It is the formal name given to the period between the end of a session of Parliament and the State Opening of Parliament that begins the next session

The desire to win elections and form a government is what distinguishes a political party from other social institutions.

A political party is an organized group of people who share similar political opinions, principles, interests and beliefs with the aim of winning election and control of government of a country/state/municipality.

On the other hand, there are social institutions such as pressure groups, A pressure group may be defined as an organized social interest group which is formed with the main aim of pursuing its interests and government policies to the interest of its members without any intention to control the government.

The operation of the rule of law is undermined by the existence of administrative tribunals and special immunities.

Some irritations of the rule of law are as follows:

1. Administrative tribunals eg. Election tribunal.

2. Immunities eg. Diplomatic immunity and parliamentary immunity.

3. Judicial immunity/Integrity of judges

4. Attitude of government eg Military government.

The type of government operated in Nigeria between October 1st 1979 to December 31st 1983 is called a presidential system of government.

That was the first time Nigeria started to practice the presidential system. The first executive president was Alhaji Shehu Shagari

The Arthur Richards Constitution was designed to last for nine years.

Richard constitution of 1946 replaced the Clifford constitution of 1922. it was due to the weakness of Clifford constitution that made the Nigerian nationalists to bring pressure on Sir Bernard Boudillon, the then governor of Nigeria (1935-1943) to give them a new constitution.

It was then Sir Bernard Boudillon who split Nigeria into northern, eastern and western regions in 1939. He also made other proposals which seemed to be very useful. But Boudillon's constitution never saw the light of the day due to outbreak of the second world war. It was the proposals of Bernard Boudillon that formed the basis of Sir Arthur Richard's constitution of 1946 which came into force on January 1st 1947.

In the Pre-colonial Igbo society,the maintenance of peace and order was,the function of the age-grades. Their duties were as follows:

1. Defence of their communities against external aggression.

2. They performed police duties in maintaining and enforcing law and order.

3. They checked wrong use of powers by paramount chiefs and council of elders.

4. They helped in the execution of policies and decisions made in the community.

The smooth operation of the civil service in Nigeria is mostly hampered by corruption and inefficiency.

The effectiveness of the civil service has been reduced by bribery and corruption.This is to the extent that civil servants find it very difficult to perform their official duties unless they receive bribe.

Other problems of the civil service in Nigeria are:

1. Political instability

2. Political interference

3. Red-Tapism

4. Tribalism

5. Geographical spread

6. Negative attitude to work

7. Poor conditions of service

8. Inadequate training facilities etc.