2008 - JAMB Government Past Questions and Answers - page 3

In orientation,early nationalism in Nigeria was essentially reformist .

Waziri in the Sokoto Caliphate performed functions similar to that of the Bashorum in Oyo Kingdom.

In the Sokoto Caliphate , Waziri is the senior official, the Emir's administrative adviser who acted as the Prime Minister. In Oyo Kingdom, the Bashorum was the Prime Minister of the empire.

Problems arising from population census in Nigeria are mainly caused by unreliable census figures, which are mainly caused by political manipulation of the elites.

For instance, when the result of 1962 census was published, the then census Commissioner, Mr.T. Warren criticized the figure as unrealistic Consequently, the then Minister for Economic Development, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, cancelled the census. Another was then conducted in November 1963. The figures returned again showed that Northern Region had 29.8 million Eastern 12.4 million, Western Region 10.3 million and the mid West 2.5 million while Lagos had 675,352 people. The figure showed on overall increase of 74%.

The East and the Mid-West rejected the figures from the North and the West. the Northern and Western Regional Premiers, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Chief S.L. Akintola threatened fire. The students of the University of Nigeria. Nsukka (UNN) protested against the figures. Serious controversy was generated over the census figures.

Finally the Prime Minister, Sir Alhaji Abukakar Tafawa Balewa nepotically accepted the figures and used them in National Economic Planning.

Berlin Conference formalized colonial penetration into Africa.

It should be noted that the Berlin Conference of 1884/85, laid very strong foundation for colonial enterprise in Africa. It literally divided the continent among European powers such as:

1. Britain

2. France

3. Germany

4. Portugal

The major objectives of the colonialists in Nigeria as well as other parts of African Continent are as follows:

1. Economic Reasons

2. Missionary Activities

3. Adventure

4. Cultural Domination

5. Expansion of Market.

The 1989 Nigerian Constitution provided for a Two-Party System.

This made General Ibrahim Babangida to float two national parties on behalf of government where all politicians had to fit in.

The political parties were as follows:

1. The Social Democratic Party (SDP)

2. National Republican Convention (NRC)

The Nigerian federalism is a Three-Tier System.
They are as follows:

1. Federal or Central Government

2. Regional/State Governments

3. Local Governments.

The arm of government mainly responsible for the implementing of law in Nigeria is the Executive.

The structure or branches of Government are:

1. Legislature. This arm is responsible for making of laws

2. The Executive. This is made up of the Head of State. as the Chief Executive, the Army, the Police and other functionaries of government at the Federal, State and Local Government levels. This arm of government sees to it that the laws made by the legislature are enforced and implemented.
The day to day running of government functions is also the responsibility of the Executive.

3. The Judiciary. This is the branch or arm of government that interprets and of government that interprets and enforces the laws and rules of the country. It is the Judiciary that sees about the correct interpretation of the constitution of the country.

The British colonial rule in Nigeria brought about the pampering of traditional rulers.

There was protection and strengthening of power of chiefs beyond traditional bounds. The British colonial rule in Nigeria made the traditional rules to be autocratic. Much concentration of power in the hands of few traditional rulers brought about marginalization of majority of the people.

Public corporations are established to improve provision of social amenities Public corporations are set up mainly to provide essential services for the people. For instance, electricity supply, transport service, water supply etc.