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.
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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Appadorai, A. (1978). The Substance of Politics, London: Oxford University Press.
Ball, A. R. (1983). Modern Politics and Government, London: Macmillan.
Christopher, O. (2022). Fundamental of Government: A Complete Guide for Schools and Colleges. Markins (Ugo) International Company Press, Delta State, Nigeria.
Dibie, C. Chris (2020). Essential Government for Senior Secondary Schools, Ibafo, Ogun State; Tonad Publishers Limited.
Gboyega, A; Obiyan, S., & Mimiko, F. (ed.) (2001). Exam Focus Government for WASSC & SSCE, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press Plc.
Ofoegbu, R. (1977). Government for the Certificate Year, London: George Allen and Unwin.
Olawale, J. B (1987). New Topics on Ordinary Level Government, Ilesha: Jola Publishing.
Oluonye, A. U. (2023). Government Simplified: Completely Revised and Expanded for Senior Secondary Schools SSS1-3. Andyson Press Limited, Garki-FCT-Abuja.
Oyediran, O., Nwosu, H., Takaya, B., Anifowoshe, R., Femi, B., Godwill, O., and Adigun, A. (1990). Government for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1, 2, and 3, Ibadan: Longman.
Oyeneye, I., Onyenwenu, M., and Olusunde, B. E. (2000). Round-Up Government for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination: A Complete Guide, Ibadan: Longman.
Oyovbaire, S., Ogunna, A. E. C., Amucheazi, E. C., Coker, H. O., and Oshuntuyi, O. (2001). Countdown to Senior Secondary Certificate Examination: Government, Ibadan: Evans.