Text Version

What To See The Exam Simulation Version?

Home / Free Subjects / government

Free JAMB Past Question for government

Q.1

Independence of the judiciary connotes that

A. Judges must be free from any influence

B. Judges must be allowed to participate in politics

C. Court judges are free to administer oaths of office

D. Judiciary must not be involved in law making

Correct Answer: option a

Show explanation

The independence of the judiciary is a cornerstone of democratic governance. It means that judges and the judicial system are impartial and free from improper influence from other branches of government (executive and legislature), political parties, or private interests, allowing them to make decisions based solely on law and fact. Judges participating in politics (B) would compromise this.

Q.2

The Arthur Richards Constitution of 1946 was significant because it:

A) Introduced universal adult suffrage for all citizens.

B) Created the first Nigerian legislative council.

C) Introduced regionalism in Nigeria, dividing the country into three regions.

D) Granted full independence to Nigeria.


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Constitutional Development in Nigeria

Show explanation

The Richards Constitution of 1946 was the first to introduce the principle of regionalism to Nigeria, dividing the country into three regions (North, East, and West) and establishing regional assemblies. This was a crucial step in Nigeria's journey towards a federal system.

Q.3

One of the major sources of a constitution is

A. party system

B. conventions

C. political structure

D. political party

Correct Answer: option b

Show explanation

While a constitution is often seen as a single document, many countries (like the UK) also rely on conventions, which are unwritten rules, customs, and practices that guide political behavior and are considered binding, even if not legally enforceable in the same way as written law. Party systems (A, D) and political structures (C) are results or aspects of a constitution, not sources of it.

Q.4

Nation-state is synonymous with


A. liberation

B. sovereignty

C. nationalism

D. self-actualization

Correct Answer: option c

Show explanation

A nation-state is a political unit where the state and the nation (a group of people united by common descent, language, culture, or history) are in agreement or harmony. The concept is strongly associated with nationalism, which is the ideology promoting the interests of a particular nation.

Q.5

The central point of capitalism as expounded by Karl Marx is that

A. Capitalist should always readily consent to workers welfare demands

B. Capitalist profits the surplus value obtained from worker's labour

C. Workers are inherently incapable of being owners of their labour

D. Capitalist shall always increase workers earning capacity through wages

Correct Answer: option b

Show explanation

Karl Marx's critique of capitalism centrally revolves around the concept of surplus value. He argued that capitalists pay workers only enough for their subsistence (wages) but extract more value from their labor than what they pay, and this "surplus value" is the source of capitalist profit, which he viewed as exploitation.

Q.6

Successive population figures have been contested in Nigeria because of

A. gender consideration

B. geographical disparity

C. religious consideration

D. political consideration


Correct Answer: option d

Show explanation

Population census figures in Nigeria have historically been highly contentious and politicized. Different regions and ethnic groups often believe that census figures are manipulated for political consideration, as population size directly impacts political representation (electoral districts) and resource allocation from the federal government.

Q.7

The relationship between two states within the international system is referred to as

A. trilateralism

B. bilateralism

C. multilateralism

D. unilateralism


Correct Answer: option b

Show explanation
  1. Bilateralism refers to relations or agreements between two states.
  2. Trilateralism (A) involves three states.
  3. Multilateralism (C) involves three or more states.
  4. Unilateralism (D) is a policy of acting alone, without consulting or cooperating with other states.


Q.8

The First Commanding Officer of the 3rd Marine Commando Division during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) was

A. Col. Olusegun Obasanjo

B. Col. Murtala Mohammed

C. Col. Mamann

D. Col. Benjamin Adekunle

Correct Answer: option d

Show explanation

During the Nigerian Civil War, Colonel Benjamin Adekunle, often referred to as "Black Scorpion," was the first and prominent commanding officer of the 3rd Marine Commando Division of the Nigerian Army.

Q.9

What is a common problem associated with public corporations and parastatals in Nigeria?

A) Excessive political control and interference.

B) High levels of efficiency and profitability.

C) A complete lack of public funding.

D) Their non-profit orientation.


Correct Answer: option a

Further reading: Public Corporations and Parastatals

Show explanation

Public corporations in Nigeria often face significant challenges due to excessive political interference, which can lead to inefficiency, mismanagement, and a lack of accountability

Q.10

Ensuring that appointments into federal establishments in Nigeria reflect geographical spread is the sole function of the

A. Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission

B. Civil Service Commission

C. Federal Character Commission

D. Public Complaint Commission

Correct Answer: option c

Show explanation

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) is specifically mandated to promote and enforce the "federal character" principle in public service appointments. This principle aims to ensure that appointments and promotions reflect the diversity of Nigeria's ethnic and geographical composition, preventing the dominance of any single ethnic group or region.

Q.11

What is a key ingredient of a free and fair election?

A) The complete absence of political parties.

B) A single-party system.

C) An independent electoral commission.

D) A mandatory indirect electoral system.


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: The Electoral Process

Show explanation

An independent electoral commission is a crucial ingredient for a free and fair election. Its independence ensures that the electoral process is conducted without bias and that the results are credible and widely accepted.

Q.12

The legal right to exercise power in a state is referred to as

A. authority

B. sovereignty

C. coercion

D. influence


Correct Answer: option a

Show explanation

Authority is the legitimate right to exercise power, meaning the power is seen as valid and justified by those subject to it.

  1. Sovereignty (B) is the supreme power or authority within a territory. While related, authority specifically speaks to the legal right to exercise power.
  2. Coercion (C) is the use of force, and influence
  3. (D) is the capacity to have an effect on the character or behavior of someone or something, without necessarily having legal right.

Q.13

A political party's primary function in a democracy is to:

A) Form pressure groups to influence government policy.

B) Select and put forward candidates to contest elections.

C) Run the day-to-day administration of the civil service.

D) Interpret the constitution in cases of dispute.


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: Political Parties and Party Systems

Show explanation

One of the most important functions of a political party is to mobilize support and nominate candidates to contest for political offices. This is a fundamental aspect of democratic politics.

Q.14

Nigeria's policy of non-alignment during the Cold War meant that the country:

A) Was a member of the Eastern Bloc.

B) Supported the Western Bloc.

C) Refused to align with either the Western or Eastern power blocs.

D) Had no diplomatic relations with any country.


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Nigeria's Foreign Policy

Show explanation

Nigeria's non-alignment policy was a deliberate foreign policy stance during the Cold War where the country chose not to formally align with either the capitalist Western Bloc led by the USA or the communist Eastern Bloc led by the Soviet Union

Q.15

The French colonial policy that aimed to transform African subjects into French citizens by absorbing them into French culture was known as:

A) Indirect Rule

B) Association

C) Assimilation

D) Crown Colony


Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Imperialist Penetration

Show explanation

The French policy of assimilation aimed to turn the colonized people into French citizens by having them adopt French language, culture, and laws. This was in stark contrast to the British policy of Indirect Rule

Q.16

A structure of government in which power is shared between the center and the units is

A. con-federal

B. unitary

C. federalism

D. oligarchic


Correct Answer: option c

Show explanation

Federalism is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central (federal) government and constituent political units (like states or provinces).

  1. Unitary (B) systems centralize power.
  2. Con-federal (A) systems have weak central governments and strong, independent units.
  3. Oligarchic (D) refers to rule by a small group.


Q.17

Nigeria's federation is

A. Two tier system

B. One tier system

C. Four tier system

D. Three tier system

Correct Answer: option d

Show explanation

Nigeria operates a three-tier federal system of government: the Federal Government (central), the State Governments, and the Local Governments.

Q.18

One of the demerits of the privatization of public corporations in Nigeria is

A. scarcity of goods and services

B. higher cost of goods and services

C. creation of unemployment

D. inefficient service delivery

Correct Answer: option b

Show explanation

While privatization aims to improve efficiency and reduce costs in the long run, a common immediate demerit, especially in the Nigerian context, has been the higher cost of goods and services for consumers as privatized entities seek to maximize profits and may face less regulation than public corporations.

  1. Creation of unemployment (C) is also a frequent criticism as private companies often streamline operations.
  2. Inefficient service delivery (D) is typically a demerit of public corporations, which privatization aims to address.


Q.19

A key reason for the adoption of a federal system in Nigeria was to:

A) Concentrate power in the central government.

B) Promote ethnic and religious unity by granting autonomy to diverse groups.

C) Create a one-party state.

D) Ensure a uniform system of law across the country.


Correct Answer: option b

Further reading: The Structure and Workings of Nigerian Federalism

Show explanation

Nigeria is a country with a large and diverse population. The rationale for adopting a federal system was to accommodate the country's ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity by allowing different groups to have some level of autonomy and self-governance

Q.20

Which nationalist leader is often referred to as the 'father of Nigerian nationalism' for his early political activism?

A) Nnamdi Azikiwe

B) Obafemi Awolowo

C) Herbert Macaulay

D) Ahmadu Bello



Correct Answer: option c

Further reading: Process of Decolonization

Show explanation

Herbert Macaulay is widely regarded as the founding father of Nigerian nationalism. He established the first political party in Nigeria, the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), in 1923, and was a prominent critic of British colonial rule.

View more questions and answers with explanation.

© 2026 Prep Center JAMB Past & Practice Questions. All rights reserved.