Government past questions: NECO SSCE 2009

50 objective questions, with answers. Free to read and practise.

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50 questions, one at a time, marked as you go or at the end. No account needed.

1.
A constitution that concentrates power in one unit of government is said to be
1. A.rigid
2. B.unitary
3. C.confederal
4. D.flexible
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Answer: B unitary
2.
A general lack of concern about political activities is known as political
1. A.alienation
2. B.apathy
3. C.socialization
4. D.anarchy
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Answer: B apathy
3.
A government led by an elected head is called
1. A.monarchy
2. B.aristocracy
3. C.autocracy
4. D.republic
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Answer: D republic
4.
A political system in which a few rule is known as
1. A.monarch
2. B.technocracy
3. C.oligarchy
4. D.gerontocracy
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Answer: C oligarchy
5.
An important achievement of ECOWAS is the
1. A.elimination of the trade barriers within the community
2. B.construction of highways linking member countries
3. C.adoption of a common currency within the community
4. D.equal mobility of labour within the community
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Answer: A elimination of the trade barriers within the community
6.
An organized body responsible for peaceful coexistence in the society is the
1. A.Police
2. B.civil service
3. C.government
4. D.judiciary
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Answer: C government
7.
Bureaucracy is an arm of the
1. A.legislature
2. B.military
3. C.executive
4. D.judiciary
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Answer: C executive
8.
By signing the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact, Nigeria practically demonstrated her
1. A.alignment
2. B.non- alignment
3. C.neutrality
4. D.independence
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Answer: A alignment
9.
Collective responsibility is a feature of the
1. A.federal system
2. B.presidential system
3. C.parliamentary system
4. D.confederal system
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Answer: C parliamentary system
10.
Commercialization is geared towards improving economic performance through
1. A.central planning and control
2. B.healthy competition
3. C.business monopolies
4. D.foreign takeovers
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Answer: B healthy competition
11.
Constitutional monarchy is practised in
1. A.Morocco and Britain
2. B.Australia and Tunisia
3. C.Saudi Arabia and Libya
4. D.Austria and Algeria
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Answer: A Morocco and Britain
12.
In 1995, Nigeria violated a principle of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration of
1. A.the independence of the judiciary
2. B.the rule of law
3. C.gender equality
4. D.fundamental human rights
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Answer: D fundamental human rights
13.
In a confederation, each component unit is
1. A.virtually autonomous
2. B.completely independent
3. C.wholly subject to the centre
4. D.coordinate with the centre
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Answer: A virtually autonomous
14.
In implementing her Afrocentric foreign policy, Nigeria has to
1. A.compromise her national interest
2. B.make financial sacrifices
3. C.respect international public opinion
4. D.relate with her neighbors
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Answer: D relate with her neighbors
15.
In the Oyo Empire, the Are-Ona Kakanfo resided outside the capital city in order to
1. A.check foreign invasion
2. B.prevent him from overthrowing the king
3. C.explore the possibility of territorial expansion
4. D.be effective over the Eso military class
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Answer: B prevent him from overthrowing the king
16.
Indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria because the traditional political system was
1. A.diffused and centrifugal
2. B.centralized and authoritarian
3. C.decentralized and hierarchical
4. D.acephalous and polycentric
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Answer: B centralized and authoritarian
17.
Military regimes usually set aside constitutional provisions relating to
1. A.the rule of law
2. B.legislative and executive processes
3. C.the bureaucratic organization of the state
4. D.professional management of the economy
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Answer: B legislative and executive processes
18.
Nigeria - Canada relations were strained in 1996 because Canada
1. A.supported Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth
2. B.refused to cancel Nigeria's foreign debts
3. C.strongly supported rebels in Sierra Leone
4. D.stopped buying Nigerian oil
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Answer: A supported Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth
19.
Nigeria endorsed the ECOWAS policy of free movement of people within the region in within the region in
1. A.1986
2. B.1987
3. C.1988
4. D.1979
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Answer: D 1979
20.
Nigeria failed to harmonize her policy with OPEC during the 1973 Middle East crisis because she
1. A.engaged in counter trade
2. B.sold oil to the United States of America
3. C.reduced her oil price
4. D.embargoed the sale of oil to other nations
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Answer: B sold oil to the United States of America
21.
Nigeria participated in UN peace-keeping operations in
1. A.Cambodia, Lebanon and Namibia
2. B.Lebanon, Congo and Kuwait
3. C.Congo, Cambodia and Zimbabwe
4. D.Namibia, Cambodia and Kuwait
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Answer: A Cambodia, Lebanon and Namibia
22.
One basic reason why it has proved difficult to conduct an accurate census in Nigeria is
1. A.political interference
2. B.lack of skilled personnel
3. C.technological backwardness
4. D.educational inadequacies
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Answer: A political interference
23.
One major weakness of the Independence Constitution was that it
1. A.did not bring about economic sovereignty
2. B.allowed for external interference
3. C.was not completely home-made
4. D.was loaded with minority problems
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Answer: B allowed for external interference
24.
One of functions of the legislature is to
1. A.execute laws
2. B.assent to bills
3. C.ratify treaties
4. D.interpret laws
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Answer: C ratify treaties
25.
One of the functions of the judiciary is
1. A.initiating public policy
2. B.deliberating on important policies
3. C.checking other arms of government
4. D.implementing public policy
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Answer: C checking other arms of government
26.
Prior to 1976, local governments were
1. A.part of the state government machinery
2. B.autonomous bodies concerned with local affairs
3. C.grassroots agents of the federal government
4. D.administrative instruments of the Native Authority
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Answer: A part of the state government machinery
27.
Profit maximization is characteristic of
1. A.capitalism
2. B.communism
3. C.communalism
4. D.feudalism
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Answer: A capitalism
28.
Public opinion simply signifies the views of
1. A.the people
2. B.the vocal few
3. C.the elite
4. D.political leaders
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Answer: A the people
29.
The 1963 Republican Constitution facilitated the creation of the
1. A.Western Region
2. B.Mid-Western Region
3. C.Eastern Region
4. D.Northern Region
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Answer: B Mid-Western Region
30.
The appointment of top civil servants is a function of the
1. A.legislature
2. B.judiciary
3. C.executive
4. D.party caucus
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Answer: C executive
31.
The basic aim of deregulation is to ensure that economic decisions are determined by
1. A.regulatory agencies
2. B.financial establishments
3. C.market forces
4. D.the organized private sector
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Answer: C market forces
32.
The bulk of local government revenue in Nigeria is derived from
1. A.the Federation account
2. B.state allocations
3. C.market and motor park rates
4. D.loan facilities
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Answer: A the Federation account
33.
The Code Conduct Bureau requires public officials to
1. A.declare their assets before taking office
2. B.entertain citizen's complaints
3. C.report abuses of power
4. D.be punished for malpractice
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Answer: A declare their assets before taking office
34.
The Council of State has responsibility to advise the president on
1. A.the appointment of ministers
2. B.the prerogative of mercy
3. C.national emergencies
4. D.electoral process
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Answer: B the prerogative of mercy
35.
The elective principle was first introduced in Nigeria by the
1. A.Clifford Constitution
2. B.Macpherson Constitution
3. C.Lyttleton Constitution
4. D.Richards Constitution
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Answer: A Clifford Constitution
36.
The first Pan-African Congress in Africa took place in
1. A.Liberia
2. B.Ethiopia
3. C.Nigeria
4. D.Ghana
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Answer: D Ghana
37.
The hierarchical organization of the civil service is means to ensure
1. A.impartial and impersonal administration
2. B.effective policy formulation at all levels
3. C.proper respect for administrative seniority
4. D.recognition of merit and achievement
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Answer: A impartial and impersonal administration
38.
The legal right to make and enforce laws is referred to as
1. A.power
2. B.legitimacy
3. C.authority
4. D.coercion
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Answer: C authority
39.
The main aim of political parties is to
1. A.control the economic resources of a nation
2. B.mobilize the nation behind a single leader
3. C.organize and control elections
4. D.capture and exercise political power
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Answer: D capture and exercise political power
40.
The main objective of Nigeria's foreign policy is to
1. A.preserve her colonial links
2. B.protect her national interest
3. C.dominate the African continent
4. D.prevent international terrorism
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Answer: B protect her national interest
41.
The main power base of a pressure group is
1. A.its hierarchy of organization
2. B.the recruitment process of its leaders
3. C.its level of mobilization
4. D.its degree of organization and resources
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Answer: D its degree of organization and resources
42.
The most popular form of government is
1. A.diarchy
2. B.totalitarianism
3. C.democracy
4. D.facism
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Answer: C democracy
43.
The payment of tax by citizens as and when due is a
1. A.privilege
2. B.duty and obligation
3. C.fundamental human right
4. D.social service
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Answer: B duty and obligation
44.
The police force belongs to the ....... arm of government
1. A.legislative
2. B.Executive
3. C.Judiciary
4. D.Peace making
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Answer: B Executive
45.
The precursor of the Commonwealth of Nations was
1. A.Dominion Conference
2. B.Imperial Conference
3. C.British Crown congress
4. D.British Empire Conference
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Answer: B Imperial Conference
46.
The purpose of creating more states in Nigeria is to
1. A.make her truly federal
2. B.bring peace and justice to all
3. C.bring the government nearer to the people
4. D.signify the equality of all Nigerian people
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Answer: C bring the government nearer to the people
47.
The two major political alliances in the First Republic were
1. A.NEPU and UPGA
2. B.NNDP and NEPU
3. C.NNA and NNDP
4. D.UPGA and NNA
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Answer: D UPGA and NNA
48.
To function effectively, an electoral commission must be
1. A.free from partisan control
2. B.an instrument of the executive
3. C.faithful to the policies of the party in power
4. D.willing to promote minority party interests
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Answer: A free from partisan control
49.
Which of the following can be considered the father of Nigerian nationalism?
1. A.Nnamdi Azikiwe
2. B.Ernest lkoli
3. C.Obafemi Awolowo
4. D.Herbert Macaulay
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Answer: D Herbert Macaulay
50.
Which of the following was a major achievement of nationalism in Nigeria?
1. A.Economic independence
2. B.Political consciousness
3. C.Cultural superiority
4. D.Social equality
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Answer: B Political consciousness

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