WAEC Government 1991 Past Questions

Practice each question, then open it to see the full details.

The major factor underlying the first military coup in Nigeria was

A.economic depression
B.power dunkenness of leaders
C.breakdown of law and order
D.public opinion
E.bribery and corruption

What is Political participation? How does a citizen participate in politics?

The Legislative Council under the 1946 constitution in Nigeria has a total of

A.40 members
B.45 members
C.48 members
D.50 members
E.55 members

Discuss the different types of pressure groups. Illustrate with relevant examples.

The founder and edit of the West African Pilot was

A.Herbert Macaulay
B.Enrest Okoli
C.Chife Obafemi Awolowo
D.Nnadi Azikiwe
E.Dr Kwame Nkrumah

Why will the one-party system not be a good option for Nigeria?

Article 3 of the North Atlantic Charter of 1941 recognized the

A.rule of law
B.fundamental rights of man
C.rights and duties of citizens
D.rights of the people to choose their own from of government
E.rights of man to own private properties

Describe the role of the cabinet in government.

Which of the following was not a result of nationalist activities in West Africa?

A.Development of many political parties
B.Rapid political and constitutional development
C.Gradual movement towards independence
D.Developement in education

State the characteristic features of the cabinet system that distinguish it from the presidential system.

African members of the Commonwealth of Nationals include all the following nations group except

A.Nigeria Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, The Gambia
B.Kenya, Zambia, The Gambia, Malawi, Tanzania
C.Nigeria, Kenya, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana
D.Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana
E.Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia

What were the factors that necessitated the adoption of a federal system of government in Nigeria.?

Which of the following organs of the OAU approves the organization's annual budget? The

A.Secretariat
B.Council of Ministers
C.Assembly of Heads of State and Govrnment
D.Economic and Social Commission
E.Liberation Committee

Discuss any five major crises that led to the Nigerian civil war.

The ten non-permanent members of the Un Security are elected by

A.a two- third majority of the General Assembly for a period of two years
B.a simple majority of the General Assmby for a period of two years
C.a two-third majority of the General Assembly for a period of one year
D.a simple majority of the General Assembly for a period of one year
E.the Security Council and the General Assembly

Account for the frequent military coups in Nigeria.

The Secretary-General of the UN occupies a peculiar position because he is

A.the secretary to all organs of the UN
B.appointed by General Assmebly
C.a member of the Security Council
D.responsible to the UN and not to individual government
E.assisted by several other secretarial staff

What has been the role of Nigeria as a member of the United Nations Organisation?

Which of the following is not a specialized agency of the United Nations Organization?

A.Food and Agriculture Organization
B.international Labour Organization
C.international Monetary Fund
D.World Health Organization
E.Economic and Social Council

The mechanism used to limit a parliamentary debate is known as

A.guillotine
B.prerogative
C.abrogation
D.adjournment
E.dissolution

In the pre-colonial political system of the Yoroba, the traditional ruler had

A.legislative and executive powers
B.legislative and judicial powers
C.executive power only
D.legislativ, executive and judicial powers
E.law making powers only

The equivalent of the modern-day prime minister under the Hausa-Fulani pre-colonial system was the

A.Alkali
B.Waziri
C.Dogari
D.Galadima
E.Madawaki

The pre-colonial political organization described as acephalous was the

A.Hausa-Fulani emirate system
B.Igbo political organization
C.Yoruba political organisation
D.pre-colonial Bini system
E.pre-colonial Ashanti system

The Aba riot of 1929 was a direct consequence of the

A.attempt to introduce taxation
B.introduction of Wstern education
C.attempt to mak women pay taxes
D.British religious intolerance
E.imposition of warrant chiefs on the Aba people

Which of the following is not a problem of civil service?

A.Red-tapism
B.Over-devotion to precedence
C.improper keeping of records
D.Poor attitude to government work
E.Advising political leaders

By the 1979 constitution, the president has all the following powers except

A.signing of bills into law
B.control of the civil service
C.preparation and presentation of annual budget
D.swearing in of a new president
E.proclamation of a state of emergency

Parliamentary supremacy implies all the following except that

A.there is no legal Limitation to the authority of parliament
B.the sole right of law making belongs to parliament
C.parliament can extend its own life
D.only parliment can legislate on public funds
E.the power of parliamnet is over and above all other powers even that of the people

One of the pioneering figures in the pan-African movement was

A.Dr. W.E.B. Du-Bois
B.Dr Kwame Nkrumah
C.Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
D.Siaka Stevens
E.Herbert Macaulay

Nigeria was formally divided into three regions under the constitution of

A.1922
B.1946
C.1951
D.1954
E.1960

The problem of the minority groups in Nigeria was first raised in the

A.1953/54 constitutional conferences
B.1957/58 constitutional conference
C.1960 constitution
D.1979 constitution
E.1963 constitution

Which of the following does not belong to the exclusive legislature introduced into the Northern Region of Nigeria?

A.1922 constitution
B.1946 constitution
C.1951 constitution
D.1954 constitution
E.1960 constitution

Military disengagement from politics involves all the following except

A.drafting a new constitution
B.drafting the ban on politics
C.conduct of a census
D.conduct of elections
E.official handing over to an elected government

The background work for the 1979 constitution started with the

A.establisment of the constitution Drafting Commitee in 1975
B.institution of a 49-member committee in 1976
C.pulication of the report on the constitution in 1976 by Rotimi Williams
D.appointment of 230 constituent assembly members in 1976
E.promulgation of the constitution in 1979

In a one-party state

A.only one party is recongnized offically and there is no legal opposition
B.only one political party wins elections all the time
C.two or more parties join together after a general election
D.the government has power to disband other political parties
E.only one party meets the required conditions of election

All the following are sources of revenue to local government except

A.rate
B.motor park and market fees
C.duties on exportation of local products
D.court fines and fees
E.grants

The three basic fundamental rights of citizens are

A.salvation, property and freedom of thought
B.life, liberty and property
C.free movement, free education and free health care
D.freedom of movement speech and rligion
E.right to employment, education and property

The three basic fundamental rights of citizens are

A.salvation, property and freedom of thought
B.life, liberty and property
C.free movement, free education and free health care
D.freedom of movement speech and rligion
E.right to employment, education and property

Under a presidential system of government, the chief executive is accountable to the

A.Legislature
B.Executive
C.Judiciary
D.Senate
E.Electorate

Which of the following is not a function of the police?

A.Enacting laws
B.Controlling traffic
C.Protecting public places
D.Arresting criminals
E.Prosecuting criminals in law court

The origin of democracy is associated with the

A.Romans
B.Greeks
C.Babylonians
D.Egyptians
E.Persians

A country that has experienced incessant military interregnum is said to have fallen into the

A.military trap
B.coup d'etat trap
C.praetorian trap
D.palace-coup trap
E.Armed Forces trap

The successor of Margaret Thatcher as the British Prime Minister is

A.Geoffrey Howe
B.John Major
C.lan Smith
D.Prince Charles
E.Qeen Elizabeth

Military government usually lacks political

A.Authority
B.Power
C.Legitimacy
D.Sovereignty
E.Representation

On which of the following was the Hausa/Fulani political system based before the introduction of indirect Rule?

A.Communism
B.Fascism
C.Totalitarianism
D.feudalism
E.Anarchism

Political participation in Nigeria is limited by all the following except

A.decree
B.voter's register
C.religion
D.residence
E.age

Which of the following best describe the system of government in Nigeria between 1922 and 1953?

A.Confederal
B.Federal
C.Republican
D.Militray
E.Unitary

Centralization of power is a basic feature of a

A.unitary government
B.presidential government
C.parliamentary government
D.federal government
E.confederal government

Which of the following actions is not a from of political participation?

A.voting at an election
B.contesting an election
C.joining a political party
D.bribing an electoral officer
E.payment of income tax

Which of the following is not common to both political parties and pressure groups in post-independence Nigeria?

A.constitutional provisions
B.threat of proscriptions by the government
C.arrest and detention of members
D.election/selection of leaders
E.harassment by the military government

The election officer charged with the responsibility of announcing election results is the

A.Resident Electoral Commissioner
B.Returning Officer
C.Supervisory Presiding Office
D.Supervisory Presiding Officer
E.Accounting Officer