Untitled

GOVERNMENT GENERAL OBJECTIVES

  • The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus in Government is to prepare candidates for the Board’s examination.
  • Designed to test knowledge in Government, determining suitability for placement in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.

Objectives

  1. Appreciate the meaning of Government.
  2. Analyze the framework and specify the institutions of Government.
  3. Appreciate the basic principles of democratic governance and their application in Nigeria.
  4. Explain the concept of citizenship and define the duties and obligations of a citizen.
  5. Appreciate the process of political development in Nigeria.
  6. Evaluate the political development and problems of governance in Nigeria.
  7. Understand the determinants and dynamics of foreign policy as they relate to Nigeria.
  8. Assess the role of Nigeria as a member of the international community and the workings of international organizations.

DETAILED SYLLABUS

PART 1: ELEMENTS OF GOVERNMENT

1. Definition and Scope of Government
  • Objectives:
    • Define Government as an institution.
    • State the characteristics of Government.
    • Explain the functions of Government.
2. Basic Concepts of Government
  • Key Terms:
    • Power, Influence, Authority, Legitimacy, Sovereignty.
    • Society, State, Nation, Nation-State.
    • Political Processes, Political Socialization, Political Participation, Political Culture.
  • Objectives:
    • Identify the fundamental concepts in governance.
    • Analyze various political processes.
    • Explain the relationship of the state to Government.
3. Forms of Government
  • Types:
    • Monarchy, Aristocracy, Oligarchy, Autocracy, Republicanism, Democracy.
  • Aspects Covered:
    • Definitions, features, merits, and demerits.
  • Objectives:
    • Distinguish between different forms of government.
    • Discuss the features of each form.
4. Arms of Government
  • Categories:
    • a. The Legislature: Types, structure, functions, powers.
    • b. The Executive: Types, functions, and powers.
    • c. The Judiciary: Functions, powers, components.
  • Objectives:
    • Identify the duties and obligations of the various arms of government and their agencies.
    • Relate each arm to its functions.
    • Appreciate how these arms interrelate.
5. Structures of Governance
  • Types:
    • a. Unitary: Features, reasons for adoption, merits, demerits.
    • b. Federal: Features, reasons for adoption, merits, demerits.
    • c. Confederal: Features, reasons for adoption, merits, demerits.
  • Objectives:
    • Compare various political structures of governance.
    • Understand reasons for the adoption of any of these structures.
6. Systems of Governance
  • Types:
    • Presidential, Parliamentary, Monarchical.
  • Aspects Covered:
    • Features, merits, demerits.
  • Objectives:
    • Distinguish between different systems of governance.
    • Analyze the features, merits, demerits of each system.
7. Political Ideologies
  • Examples:
    • Communalism, Feudalism, Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Totalitarianism, Fascism, Nazism, Liberalism.
  • Objectives:
    • Differentiate between major political ideologies.
    • Contrast their modes of production.
8. Constitution
  • Aspects Covered:
    • Meaning, Sources, Functions, Types (Written, Unwritten, Rigid, Flexible).
  • Objectives:
    • Define and identify sources and functions of constitutions.
    • Compare the nature of constitutions.
9. Principles of Democratic Government
  • Key Principles:
    • Ethics and Accountability in Public Office.
    • Separation of Power, Checks and Balances.
    • Individual and Collective Responsibility, Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, Representative Government.
    • Centralization and Decentralization of Government.
  • Objectives:
    • Identify the principles of democratic government.
    • Determine the application of these principles.
10. Processes of Legislation
  • Types:
    • Legislative Enactments: Acts, Edicts, Bye-laws, Delegated Legislation, Decrees.
  • Objectives:
    • Analyze the processes involved in the making of laws.
11. Citizenship
  • Aspects Covered:
    • a. Meaning, types.
    • b. Citizenship rights.
    • c. Dual citizenship, renunciation, deprivation.
    • d. Duties and obligations of citizens.
    • e. Duties and obligations of the state.
  • Objectives:
    • Differentiate between methods of acquiring citizenship.
    • Specify the rights and responsibilities of a citizen.
    • Assess the obligations of the state.
12. The Electoral Process
  • Key Aspects:
    • a. Suffrage: evolution, types.
    • b. Election: Types, ingredients of free and fair election, pre- and post-election crisis.
    • c. Electoral System: Types, advantages, disadvantages.
    • d. Electoral Commission: Functions, problems.
  • Objectives:
    • Assess various types of electoral systems and processes.
13. Political Parties and Party Systems
  • Key Components:
    • a. Political parties: Definitions, organization, functions.
    • b. Party Systems: Definition, organization, functions, merits, demerits.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the role and functions of political parties and differentiate types of party systems.
14. Pressure Groups
  • Aspects Covered:
    • a. Definition, types, functions, modes of operation.
    • b. Differences between Pressure Groups and Political Parties.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the functions and modus operandi of pressure groups.
    • Differentiate between pressure groups and political parties.
15. Public Opinion
  • Components:
    • a. Meaning, formation, measurement.
    • b. Functions and limitations.
  • Objectives:
    • Compare methods of assessing public opinion; assess functions and limitations of public opinion.
16. The Civil Service/Public Service
  • Key Aspects:
    • a. Definition, characteristics, functions, structure, control, problems of the civil service.
    • b. Definition, characteristics, functions, structure, control, problems of the public service.
  • Objectives:
    • Assess the significance of civil service in governance.
    • Distinguish between civil service and public services.

PART II: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

1. Pre-colonial Polities
  • Examples: Pre-jihad Hausa/Fulani Emirate, Tiv, Igbo, Yoruba.
  • Aspects Covered:
    • Their structural organization and functions of various political institutions.
  • Objectives:
    • Appreciate the effectiveness of pre-colonial political systems and their comparison.
2. Imperialists Penetration
  • Key Processes:
    • a. British process of acquisition: trade, missionary activities, company rule, crown colony, protectorate.
    • b. British colonial administrative policy: direct and indirect rule.
    • c. French colonial administrative policy: assimilation and association.
    • d. Impact of British colonial rule: economic, political, socio-cultural.
    • e. Comparison of British and French colonial administration.
  • Objectives:
    • Trace the processes of imperialist penetration and assess the impact of British and French colonial policies.
3. Process of Decolonization
  • Components:
    • a. Nationalism: Meaning, Types.
    • b. Nationalist Movements: emergence, goals, strategies.
    • c. Nationalist Leaders: Includes Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, ahmadu bello, Ladipo Solanke, Aminu Kano, J. S. Tarka, Tafawa Balewa, among others.
    • d. Emergence of Nationalist Parties.
    • e. Influence of external factors.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the process of decolonization and the roles of nationalist leaders and parties.
4. Constitutional Development in Nigeria
  • Key Constitutions:
    • Hugh Clifford Constitution (1922).
    • Arthur Richards Constitution (1946).
    • John Macpherson Constitution (1951).
    • Oliver Lyttleton Constitution (1954).
    • Independence Constitution (1960).
  • Aspects Covered:
    • Features, merits, demerits of these constitutions.
  • Objectives:
    • Compare various constitutional developments and analyze their merits and demerits.
5. Post-Independence Constitutions
  • Constitutions Covered:
    • 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 (Amended).
  • Aspects Covered:
    • Characteristics and shortcomings of each.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the operations of the various constitutions and assess the merits and demerits of Post-Independence Constitutions in Nigeria.
6. Institutions of Government in Post-Independence Nigeria
  • Key Arms:
    • a. Legislative: Structures, functions, workings.
    • b. Executive: Structure, functions, workings.
    • c. Judiciary: Structure, functions, workings.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the operations of the arms of government and their agencies, including civil service, armed forces, police, courts, and others.
7. Public Commissions Established by the 1979 and Subsequent Constitutions
  • Key Commissions:
    • Civil Service Commission, Public Complaints Commission, Electoral Commissions, National Boundary Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
  • Aspects Covered:
    • Objectives, functions, and problems of these commissions.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the operations of public commissions and assess the problems and challenges they face.
8. Political Parties and Party Politics in Post-Independence Nigeria
  • Key Republics:
    • First Republic, Second Republic, Third Republic, Fourth Republic.
    • Evolution, membership spread, structure, etc.
  • Objectives:
    • Contrast political processes in the republics and evaluate the ideologies, structure, and composition of the political parties.
9. The Structure and Workings of Nigerian Federalism
  • Aspects Covered:
    • a. Rationale for a Federal System.
    • b. Tiers of Government and relationships.
    • c. Creation of States: 1963, 1967, 1976, 1987, 1991, 1996.
    • d. Problems of Nigerian Federalism: Census, Revenue Allocation, Conflicts, etc.
    • e. Solutions: The Federal Character Principle, etc.
  • Objectives:
    • Examine the workings of Nigerian federalism, identify its problems, and evaluate corrective measures.
10. Public Corporations and Parastatals
  • Key Aspects:
    • a. Definition, types, purpose, functions;
    • b. Finance, control, and problems.
    • c. Deregulation, Privatisation, Commercialisation: objectives, features, merits, and demerits.
    • d. Comparison between Public Corporations and Parastatals.
  • Objectives:
    • Analyze the operations of public corporations and parastatals, identify the processes involved, and assess their economic importance.
11. Local Government
  • Aspects Covered:
    • a. Local Government Administration prior to 1976.
    • b. Features of Local Government Reforms (1976, 1989) – structure, functions, finance, inter-governmental relations.
    • c. Traditional Rulers and Local Governments.
    • d. Problems of Local Government Administration in Nigeria.
  • Objectives:
    • Trace the evolution of Local Government, assess its major problems and analyze the role of Traditional Rulers.
12. The Military in Nigerian Politics
  • Key Aspects:
    • a. Factors that led to military intervention.
    • b. Structure of military regimes.
    • c. Impact of military rule: Political (e.g., creation of states, NYSC, introduction of unitary system - Unification Decree NO. 34), Economic (e.g., SAP, DFRRI, People's Bank, MAMSER).
    • d. Processes of military disengagement.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the reasons for military intervention and assess the achievements during military rule, and the conditions that necessitated withdrawal.

PART III: FOREIGN POLICY AND NIGERIA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

1. Foreign Policy
  • Aspects Covered:
    • Definition, purpose, determining factors; formulation and implementation.
  • Objectives:
    • Define foreign policy and identify its determinants.
2. Nigeria’s Foreign Policy
  • Key Relationships:
    • a. Relations with major powers.
    • b. Relations with developing countries: Technical Aid Corps (TAC), Peace-Keeping Operations.
    • c. Nigeria’s Non-Alignment Policy.
  • Objectives:
    • Identify the major objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy and analyze Nigeria’s non-aligned posture during the Cold War.
3. Nigeria’s Relations with African Countries
  • Key Aspects:
    • a. The "centre piece" of Nigeria’s foreign policy: guiding principles, implementation, implications.
    • b. NEPAD: origin, objectives, implications.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the role of Nigeria in continental affairs and the role of NEPAD in developing Africa.
4. Nigeria in International Organizations
  • Key Organizations:
    • a. The United Nations.
    • b. The Commonwealth.
    • c. The Organization of African Unity and African Union.
    • d. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
    • e. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
  • Objectives:
    • Analyze Nigeria’s involvement in international organizations and assess their contribution to Nigeria’s development.

PART IV: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

1. International Organizations
  • Examples:
    • ECOWAS, OAU, AU, Commonwealth, OPEC, UNO, African Petroleum Producers Association.
  • Key Aspects Covered:
    • Origin, objectives, structure, functions, achievements, problems, and prospects of these organizations.
  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate the operations of these international organizations, assess their role in world affairs, and appreciate the challenges they face and potential solutions.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

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