WAEC Government (OBJ & Essay) Questions and Answers 2026
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Objective Answers (OBJ)
Essay & Theory Answers
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GOVERNMENT OBJ 01-10: ACDBDABBAB 11-20: DBABDABDAD 21-30: BBAACBAAAC 31-40: BBCCABBBCC 41-50: BDABDAADDC COMPLETED BY EXAMGROUP.NET *WAEC GOVERNMENT (PAPER 2 – ESSAY)* *COMPLETE ANSWERS – SECTION A & B (Q1 TO Q10)* =========================================================== SECTION A: ELEMENTS OF GOVERNMENT =========================================================== QUESTION 1 (a) State three problems confronting the judiciary in Nigeria (3 marks) 1. Inadequate funding – courts lack modern equipment, furniture, and technology. 2. Delay in the administration of justice – cases take years to be decided due to adjournments. 3. Corruption and bribery – some judicial officers accept bribes to influence judgments. (b) Discuss four measures necessary for preventing judicial autocracy so as to promote Rule of Law (12 marks) 1. Security of tenure for judges – judges should not be removed arbitrarily except for proven misconduct. This allows them to make independent decisions without fear. 2. Guaranteed salaries and allowances – judicial salaries should be charged to the consolidated fund and not subject to executive approval. This prevents financial intimidation. 3. Appointment based on merit through judicial commissions – political interference in appointing judges should be eliminated to ensure qualified and impartial persons are appointed. 4. Public scrutiny of judicial decisions – court judgments should be published and open to criticism by legal scholars and the public, which checks any abuse of power. =========================================================== QUESTION 2 (a) Explain the terms pressure group and public opinion (3 marks) Pressure group – an organized association of individuals who share common interests and seek to influence government policies without contesting elections. Public opinion – the collective views, attitudes, and beliefs of the majority of citizens on a particular issue of public importance. (b) Examine four significant roles of pressure groups in deepening democracy in Nigeria (12 marks) 1. Interest articulation – pressure groups express the needs and concerns of different sectors (e.g., farmers, workers, students) to the government. 2. Political education – they educate their members and the public on government policies and their rights. 3. Checks and balances – they monitor government activities and expose corruption or abuse of power. 4. Mobilization for participation – they encourage citizens to participate in political processes such as voting, protests, or public hearings. =========================================================== QUESTION 3 (a) Explain to your colleague what constitutes free elections and fair elections (3 marks) (i) Free elections – elections in which voters are not intimidated, coerced, or manipulated. Citizens can vote for any candidate of their choice without fear. (ii) Fair elections – elections in which all parties and candidates are treated equally. The electoral body applies the same rules to everyone, and votes are counted accurately. (b) Analyze four measures INEC can adopt to promote the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria (12 marks) 1. Use of electronic voting and result transmission – this reduces manual manipulation and speeds up result announcement. 2. Biometric registration of voters (BVAS) – prevents multiple voting and impersonation. 3. Independence and non-partisanship of INEC staff – commissioners and officers must not be members of any political party. 4. Prosecution of electoral offenders – persons caught vote-buying, ballot snatching, or rigging should be tried and jailed promptly. =========================================================== QUESTION 4 (a) Identify three functions of the Civil Service of Nigeria (3 marks) 1. Formulation and implementation of government policies. 2. Advising political leaders on policy matters. 3. Keeping and preserving government records and documents. (b) Examine four means by which the Civil Service promotes accountability in the public sector (12 marks) 1. Proper record keeping – all financial transactions and decisions are documented for auditing. 2. Adherence to financial regulations – civil servants follow procurement and spending rules. 3. Annual auditing – government accounts are audited by the Auditor-General and reported to the legislature. 4. Code of conduct and ethics – civil servants swear to an oath of allegiance and are bound by rules against corruption. =========================================================== QUESTION 5 (a) State three reasons for the establishment of public corporations in Nigeria (3 marks) 1. To provide essential services (electricity, water, transport) that private investors may not provide. 2. To control and regulate strategic sectors of the economy. 3. To create employment opportunities for citizens. (b) Examine four ways commercialization would address the problem of inefficiency of public corporations in Nigeria (12 marks) 1. Profit orientation – commercialized corporations operate like private businesses, seeking profit, which encourages efficiency. 2. Managerial autonomy – they are free from civil service bureaucracy and can hire and fire based on performance. 3. Competition – commercialized corporations compete with private firms, forcing them to improve service delivery. 4. Customer focus – they must satisfy customers to generate revenue, unlike monopolistic public corporations. =========================================================== SECTION B: POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN WEST AFRICA AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS =========================================================== QUESTION 6 Examine five political structures of the Yoruba in the pre-colonial era that are relevant to the governance of Nigeria in the modern era (15 marks) 1. The Oba as constitutional monarch – the Oba ruled with the advice of chiefs (kingmakers), not as an absolute ruler. This is similar to modern constitutional governance. 2. Checks and balances – the Oyo Mesi (council of chiefs) could check the power of the Alaafin. This mirrors the separation of powers in modern democracy. 3. Decentralized administration – towns and villages had local chiefs who managed local affairs. This is reflected in Nigeria's local government system. 4. The role of the council of elders – elders advised the Oba and settled disputes. This is similar to modern advisory bodies and traditional rulers in governance. 5. Popular participation through age grades and guilds – different groups contributed to decision-making. This aligns with modern civil society participation. =========================================================== QUESTION 7 In five developed full points, analyze the distribution of political power under the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 (15 marks) 1. Federal structure – Nigeria became a true federation with three regions: Northern, Eastern, and Western Region. 2. Regional autonomy – each region had its own legislature and executive (Premier and ministers) with control over regional subjects. 3. Exclusive legislative list – the central government controlled defense, foreign affairs, currency, and mining. 4. Concurrent legislative list – both central and regional governments could legislate on matters like higher education and industrial development. 5. Residual powers – matters not listed belonged to the regions, giving them significant autonomy. =========================================================== QUESTION 8 Examine five ways military interventions negatively affected the deepening of democracy in Nigeria (15 marks) 1. Suspension of the constitution – military regimes ruled by decrees, not by the constitution, destroying constitutionalism. 2. Banning of political parties and civil liberties – freedom of speech, assembly, and association were suppressed. 3. Politicization of the military – soldiers began to see themselves as rulers rather than protectors of the nation. 4. Weak democratic institutions – frequent coups prevented the growth of stable legislatures, judiciaries, and electoral bodies. 5. Corruption and impunity – military officers in power looted public funds without accountability. =========================================================== QUESTION 9 Discuss five ways the Policy of Association promoted local participation in governance, compared to the Policy of Assimilation (15 marks) 1. Recognition of traditional rulers – Association allowed chiefs to rule under French supervision, while Assimilation abolished them. 2. Use of local laws – Association permitted customary law, while Assimilation imposed French law only. 3. Separate legal status – Africans under Association were French subjects, not citizens, but could participate locally. Assimilation demanded full citizenship with French culture. 4. Local advisory councils – Association created councils with African members. Assimilation centralised power in France. 5. Gradual political evolution – Association prepared Africans for self-rule; Assimilation aimed to turn them into Frenchmen, ignoring local participation. =========================================================== QUESTION 10 In five well-explained points, assess the importance of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in preparing for Nigeria's independence in 1960 (15 marks) 1. Nationalist consciousness – the NYM was the first multi-ethnic nationalist movement in Nigeria, promoting unity among Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa youth. 2. Demand for self-government – the NYM agitated for independence from Britain and criticized colonial policies. 3. Leadership training – the NYM produced leaders such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and H.O. Davies. 4. Public enlightenment – the NYM used newspapers (e.g., The Daily Times) to educate Nigerians on their political rights. 5. Pressure for constitutional reforms – the NYM made representations to colonial authorities, contributing to the Richards and Macpherson Constitutions. =========================================================== END OF ANSWERS – QUESTIONS 1 TO 10 ===========================================================
