Civic Education · Lesson 5

Structure and functions of government; national development

WAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

WAEC: WAEC/NECO Civic Education, Section C Topic 13 Structure and functions of government: meaning of government; tiers (federal, state, local); arms (legislature, executive, judiciary); separation of powers and checks and balances; constitutional democracy; Topic 14 (part) national development and good governance

NECO: WAEC/NECO Civic Education, Section C Topic 13 Structure and functions of government: meaning of government; tiers (federal, state, local); arms (legislature, executive, judiciary); separation of powers and checks and balances; constitutional democracy; Topic 14 (part) national development and good governance

What you will learn

Define government and explain why it is needed.
Describe the three tiers of government in Nigeria and their functions.
Explain the composition and functions of the legislature, executive and judiciary.
Explain separation of powers and checks and balances, with Nigerian examples.
Explain constitutional democracy and its features.
Explain good governance and its link to national development.

Key points

Government: the machinery through which the will of the state is made and carried out; the state is permanent, government changes.
Functions: law and order, defence, welfare, amenities, economic management, foreign relations.
Federalism: powers shared between federal and state governments by the Constitution; Exclusive List, Concurrent List, residual matters.
36 states + FCT; 774 LGAs; local government functions in the Fourth Schedule; s.7 guarantees elected councils.
Legislature (s.4): bicameral National Assembly, Senate 109, House 360; makes laws, approves budget, oversight, confirms, impeaches.
Executive (s.5): President, minimum age 35, four-year term, two terms; implements laws, policy, appointments, veto, pardon.
Judiciary (s.6): Supreme Court at the top; interprets laws, judicial review, protects rights; judges retire at 70.
Separation of powers (Montesquieu, 1748) prevents tyranny; checks and balances let each arm limit the others.
Constitutional democracy: elected, limited government under a supreme constitution (s.1).
Good governance (accountability, transparency, rule of law, participation) promotes national development.

Start here: Meaning of government and why we need it

Imagine a market with no rules: no one fixes the stalls, settles quarrels or keeps the roads open. Very soon, the strongest people would take what they like. Government exists to stop that from happening on a national scale.

Government is the machinery or institution through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and carried out. The word is also used for the people who hold power at a given time, and for the academic study of how states are run.

Do not confuse government with the state. The state (Nigeria) is permanent and has four elements: population, territory, government and sovereignty. Governments change with elections; the state remains.

Why government is needed (functions)

Maintenance of law and order through the police, courts and correctional services.
Defence of the territory against external attack.
Protection of lives, property and rights; section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution says the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
Provision of social amenities such as roads, schools, hospitals, water and electricity.
Economic management: making budgets, collecting taxes, controlling inflation, creating jobs.
Making and enforcing laws.
Foreign relations: representing the country abroad.
Promoting national unity among different ethnic and religious groups.

Worked example 5.1

Distinguish between the state and government (two points).

Permanence: the state is permanent; a government is temporary and changes through elections.
Scope: the state includes population, territory, sovereignty and government; government is only one element of the state.

Government is the agent through which the state acts.

Try it yourself. Which section of the 1999 Constitution says the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government?

Show solution

Section 14(2)(b).

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Practice questions

1. The arm of government that makes laws is the

legislature
executive
judiciary
police

Show answer

A: legislature
Section 4.

2. The arm of government that interprets laws is the

executive
legislature
civil service
judiciary

Show answer

D: judiciary
Section 6.

3. Executive powers of the Federation are vested in the President by section

Show answer

C: 5
s.5.

4. Nigeria's National Assembly consists of

the Supreme Court
the Senate and the House of Representatives
the Senate only
the cabinet

Show answer

B: the Senate and the House of Representatives
Bicameral legislature.

5. The Senate has

109 members
360 members
36 members
774 members

Show answer

A: 109 members
Three per state plus one FCT.

Key words

Government: The machinery or institution through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and carried out.
Federalism: A system in which powers are shared by a constitution between a central government and component units.
Legislature: The arm of government that makes laws.
Executive: The arm of government that implements laws and runs the day-to-day administration.
Judiciary: The arm of government that interprets laws and settles disputes through the courts.
Separation of powers: The principle that the three functions of government should be performed by separate bodies and persons.
Checks and balances: Arrangements by which each arm of government limits the powers of the others.
Bicameral: Having two chambers, such as the Senate and House of Representatives.
Unicameral: Having one chamber, such as a State House of Assembly.
Exclusive Legislative List: Matters on which only the National Assembly can make laws.
Concurrent Legislative List: Matters on which both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly can make laws.
Residual matters: Matters not on either list, left to the states.

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