Civic Education · Lesson 2

Citizenship, nationalism & national consciousness

WAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

WAEC: WAEC/NECO Civic Education, Section A Topic 2 Citizenship and Nationalism: meaning of citizenship; ways of acquiring citizenship; citizenship education and its goals; duties and obligations of citizens; nationalism and national consciousness; national identity, integrity and unity; nationalistic roles of individuals and groups; national symbols; local and world civic problems

NECO: WAEC/NECO Civic Education, Section A Topic 2 Citizenship and Nationalism: meaning of citizenship; ways of acquiring citizenship; citizenship education and its goals; duties and obligations of citizens; nationalism and national consciousness; national identity, integrity and unity; nationalistic roles of individuals and groups; national symbols; local and world civic problems

What you will learn

Explain the meaning of citizen and citizenship and distinguish a citizen from an alien.
Describe the ways of acquiring, renouncing and losing Nigerian citizenship.
Explain citizenship education and state its goals.
State and explain the duties and obligations of citizens, and the rights they enjoy.
Explain nationalism, national consciousness, identity, integrity and unity, and the roles of individuals and groups.
Describe Nigeria’s national symbols, and identify local and world civic problems and their solutions.

Key points

Citizen: full legal member of a state with rights, protection, allegiance and duties; alien: non-citizen resident.
Ways of acquiring Nigerian citizenship: birth (s.25), registration (s.26), naturalisation (s.27); honorary citizenship is symbolic only.
Registration: woman married to a Nigerian, or adult born abroad with a Nigerian grandparent; good character, domicile, Oath of Allegiance.
Naturalisation: full age, good character, acceptable to community, useful contribution, oath, 15 years’ residence.
Dual citizenship allowed for citizens by birth (s.28); renunciation at 18+ (s.29); deprivation only of non-birth citizens (s.30).
Citizenship education builds knowledge, values and skills for responsible citizenship; agents: family, school, religion, media, NOA.
Duties (s.24): obey the Constitution and respect flag, anthem, pledge; defend Nigeria; respect others; contribute; help keep order; pay tax.
Nationalism: love and loyalty to the nation and the struggle for self-rule (Macaulay, Azikiwe, Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Ransome-Kuti).
National ethics (s.23): Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labour, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance, Patriotism; unity efforts: NYSC (1973), unity schools, federal character.
Symbols: green-white-green flag (Akinkunmi); anthem "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" (restored 29 May 2024); pledge; coat of arms; motto "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress".

Start here: Meaning of citizen and citizenship

When Nigeria’s Super Falcons play, millions of people from Sokoto to Calabar cheer for the same team. What ties them together is that they are all members of one state: they are citizens of Nigeria.

A citizen is a person who is a full legal member of a state, enjoys the rights and protection the state gives, and owes the state loyalty (allegiance) and duties. Citizenship is the legal status of being such a member, together with the rights and obligations that come with it.

A person who lives in a country but is not its citizen is an alien (foreigner). Aliens must obey the laws of the country and enjoy many human rights, such as the right to life and fair hearing, but some rights are reserved for citizens. In Nigeria, for example, only citizens may vote or be voted for, and section 41 gives freedom of movement and residence to "every citizen".

Features of citizenship

Legal status: it is defined by law, in Nigeria by Chapter III of the Constitution.
Rights: citizens enjoy civil, political, economic and social rights.
Duties: citizens owe obligations such as obeying the law and paying tax.
Allegiance: citizens owe loyalty to the state.
Protection: the state protects its citizens at home and abroad, for example through its embassies.
Equality: all citizens are equal before the law, whatever their ethnic group, religion or sex (s.42).

Worked example 2.1

Distinguish between a citizen and an alien, giving one right each enjoys.

A citizen is a full legal member of the state; e.g. he can vote and be voted for.
An alien is a foreigner living in the state; e.g. he still enjoys the right to life and fair hearing.
Key difference: political rights (voting, holding elective office) are for citizens.

Citizen: full member with political rights. Alien: foreigner with basic human rights only.

⚠️ Common mistake: saying that anyone who lives in Nigeria is a Nigerian citizen. Residence alone does not make a person a citizen.

Try it yourself. State three features of citizenship.

Show solution

Any three: legal status, rights, duties, allegiance, protection by the state, equality before the law.

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Practice questions

1. A citizen is

a legal member of a state with rights and duties
any visitor to a country
only a person who votes
a foreigner

Show answer

A: a legal member of a state with rights and duties
Citizenship is legal membership.

2. Citizenship by birth is provided for in section

26
27
30
25 of the 1999 Constitution

Show answer

D: 25 of the 1999 Constitution
s.26 registration; s.27 naturalisation.

3. Which is a way of acquiring Nigerian citizenship?

Attending school
Joining a party
Naturalisation
Paying taxes

Show answer

C: Naturalisation
Also by birth and registration.

4. A woman married to a Nigerian man may acquire citizenship by

adoption
registration
naturalisation only
birth

Show answer

B: registration
Section 26.

5. Dual citizenship is allowed in Nigeria for

citizens by birth
all naturalised citizens
foreigners only
nobody

Show answer

A: citizens by birth
Section 28.

Key words

Citizen: A legal member of a state who enjoys its rights and protection and owes it allegiance and duties.
Citizenship: The legal status of being a member of a state, with its rights and duties.
Alien: A person living in a country who is not its citizen.
Registration: Acquiring citizenship by application on grounds such as marriage to a citizen or having a citizen grandparent (s.26).
Naturalisation: Acquiring citizenship by a foreigner after long lawful residence and other conditions (s.27).
Dual citizenship: Holding the citizenship of two countries at once; in Nigeria allowed for citizens by birth (s.28).
Renunciation: Voluntarily giving up one’s citizenship (s.29).
Deprivation: Withdrawal of citizenship by the state in limited cases, not from citizens by birth (s.30).
Oath of Allegiance: A solemn promise of loyalty to Nigeria, set out in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
Citizenship education: Teaching that develops knowledge, values and skills for responsible membership of society.
Nationalism: Love of, pride in and loyalty to one’s nation; also the movement for self-rule.
Patriotism: Devotion to one’s country shown by service and sacrifice for it.

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