2007 - JAMB Government Past Questions and Answers - page 4

Correct Answer: Option E The adoption of a federal system of government in Nigeria under colonial rule was necessitated mainly by Administrative convenience. another was cultural diversity.

In 1946, Arthur Richard made some constitutional proposals for the country such as:

1. Providing adequately for the diverse elements making up the people within that unit

2. Dividing the country into three administrative units or regions.

Public Corporations are established mainly to provide services at subsidized rates.

Looking into the definition of Public Corporations, it should be realized that they are business organizations which are set up by an Act of Parliament or Decree to provide certain social welfare services for the public which if provided by private entrepreneurs will be very costly.

One of the major reasons for setting up Public corporations is to provide essential goods and services at cheaper rates for the people. Another is to protect the consumers from Shylock traders and manufacturers, provision of employment opportunities etc.

Indirect Rule as a British colonial policy was first introduced in India.

Lord Lugard, earlier in his colonial service, tried the Indirect system in India and it worked well. He then introduced the system in Nigeria due to the fact that he observed similar traits in Nigeria as he saw in India. So he thought that the system would also work in Nigeria.

Following the 1976 Local Government reforms in Nigeria,the Local governments were empowered to promulgate and enforce. Bye-laws.

In the Nigerian Constitution,the powers to create local governments lie with the National Assembly.

Looking at the definition of Local Government, it should be realized that it is government at the grassroots level, set up by An Act of Parliament or by Decree. It may also be defined as institutions of government through which local affairs are managed by local people under a law made for that purpose by the central Government.

It should then be noted that every thing centres on the federal government and as such, the National Assembly has to debate on the bill which will be signed into law by the President.

The Pre-Colonial Igbo political system was largely Republican.

Apart from Igbos of Onitsha. Abo, Uguta, etc that had some from of monarchical institution which they inherited mostly from Benin, the pre-colonial administration in Igbo land was democratic with each village being a small republic. Political power was not centralized or concentrated in one hand. Instead it was scattered and this made the society egalitarian.

Gombe and Zamfara were the states created in 1996.

On October, 1, General Sani Abacha announced the creation of six more states and the states were as follows:

1. Ekiti State

2. Ebonyi State

3. Bayalsa State

4. Nassarawa State

5. Zamfara State and

6. Gombe State.

This brought the number of states in Nigeria to 36 at present.

Acculturation in colonial administration was associated with the French policy of assimilation.

The French adopted the policy in all their territories. The ides was to rule the people directly and if possible, introduce the French ways of life to their colonial subjects. This was to maintain their claim that French culture was the best in the whole human race, Thus, they set about acculturating their subjects and tried to turn them into Black- French men and women.

In other words, the French Policy of Assimilation was the type of colonial administration which the French government imposed on its West African Colonies. The system was meant to replace the culture of West Africans with that of the French people.

Military disengagement from politics is always preceded by the making of a new constitution.

It should be noted that the following steps were taken by the military to return Nigeria to Civil rule in October, first, 1979.

1. Setting up Constitution Drafting Committee

2. Inaugurating a Constituent Assembly to ratify the draft constitution.

3. Establishment of Elections Commission (FEDECO)

4. Local Government Elections on Non-Party Basis in 1976.

5. Lifting of Ban on Political Activities

6. Registration of Political Parties.

7. The conduct of General Elections is 1979

8. Swearing in of the Elected President and the State governors in October, 1979.