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Government past questions: JAMB UTME 2021

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

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

  1. 1.
    ____________was the method used by the British to facilitate the administration of Southern Nigeria.
    1. A.Trade association
    2. B.Divide and rule
    3. C.Dialogue
    4. D.Persuasion
    Show answer

    Answer: B Divide and rule

  2. 2.
    ________refers to the manipulation of boundaries of constituencies in order to win more seats,
    1. A.Delimitation
    2. B.Devolution
    3. C.Determination
    4. D.Gerrymandering
    Show answer

    Answer: D Gerrymandering

  3. 3.
    ____was the first Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
    1. A.Chief Samuel Adebo
    2. B.Professor Ibrahim Gambari
    3. C.Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule
    4. D.General Joseph Garba
    Show answer

    Answer: A Chief Samuel Adebo

  4. 4.
    A common feature of government is________
    1. A.The making of public policy
    2. B.The separation of powers
    3. C.The independence of the judiciary
    4. D.A written constitution
    Show answer

    Answer: A The making of public policy

  5. 5.
    A major issue that distinguishes pressure groups from political parties is the ...
    1. A.Ideology
    2. B.Objective
    3. C.Membership drive
    4. D.Voting pattern
    Show answer

    Answer: B Objective

  6. 6.
    After 1945, the demand of African nationalists changed from reform to independence because .....
    1. A.The Second World War enhanced colonial rule
    2. B.Colonial rule became less oppressive
    3. C.Colonial rule was in disarray
    4. D.The Second World War boosted their morale
    Show answer

    Answer: D The Second World War boosted their morale

  7. 7.
    Before Nigeria became a republic, the highest body charged with the administration of justice was the......
    1. A.Court of Appeal
    2. B.High Court
    3. C.Privy Council
    4. D.Supreme Court
    Show answer

    Answer: C Privy Council

  8. 8.
    During the Civil War, the major power that expressed moral support for Biafra's self- determination was ......
    1. A.Great Britain
    2. B.China
    3. C.France
    4. D.The United States
    Show answer

    Answer: C France

  9. 9.
    Financial allocation to local governments by the federal or the state government to supplement the cost of a project is called_____
    1. A.Revenue allocation
    2. B.Reimbursement
    3. C.Statutory allocation
    4. D.Matching grant
    Show answer

    Answer: D Matching grant

  10. 10.
    Government by the wealthy is known as _________
    1. A.Democracy
    2. B.Plutocracy
    3. C.Oligarchy
    4. D.Aristocracy
    Show answer

    Answer: B Plutocracy

  11. 11.
    In the First Republic, the official opposition party was the ..........
    1. A.National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons
    2. B.Northern Elements Progressive Union
    3. C.Action Group
    4. D.Northern People's Congress
    Show answer

    Answer: C Action Group

  12. 12.
    In the legislative process, a bill is a ....
    1. A.Proposal before the legislature
    2. B.Law passed by the legislature
    3. C.Motion accepted for debate
    4. D.Motion rejected after debate
    Show answer

    Answer: A Proposal before the legislature

  13. 13.
    Nigeria's withdrawal from the Edinburg Commonwealth Games in July 1986 was in protest against British.....
    1. A.Failure to impose sanctions on South Africa
    2. B.Negative utterances on Nigeria
    3. C.Supply of arms to Rhodesia
    4. D.Support for UNITArebels in Angola
    Show answer

    Answer: A Failure to impose sanctions on South Africa

  14. 14.
    One argument against a multi-party system is the _______
    1. A.Inability to attract foreign assistance
    2. B.High cost of conducting elections
    3. C.Banning of interest groups
    4. D.Encouragement of opposition and instability
    Show answer

    Answer: B High cost of conducting elections

  15. 15.
    One of the duties of the legislature is to_______
    1. A.Exercise oversight
    2. B.Implement law
    3. C.Promulgate decrees
    4. D.Adjudicate disputes
    Show answer

    Answer: A Exercise oversight

  16. 16.
    Professor lbrahim Gambari was the Special Assistant to the United Nations Secretary General on____________
    1. A.Security matters
    2. B.African affairs
    3. C.Political and social matters
    4. D.The Economic Commission of Africa
    Show answer

    Answer: B African affairs

  17. 17.
    Some pre-colonial Nigerian societies are described as stateless because ......
    1. A.They had no formal governmental institutions
    2. B.They were not independent
    3. C.They had no definite political boundaries
    4. D.Their population was too small
    Show answer

    Answer: A They had no formal governmental institutions

  18. 18.
    The ....... is responsible for advising the president of Nigeria on the sovereignty and territorial Integrity of the country.
    1. A.National Defence Council
    2. B.Council of State
    3. C.National Security Council
    4. D.Federal Executive Council
    Show answer

    Answer: A National Defence Council

  19. 19.
    The absence of the rule of law in government will bring about ...
    1. A.Human rights abuse
    2. B.Political apathy
    3. C.Corrupt practices
    4. D.Treasonable offences
    Show answer

    Answer: A Human rights abuse

  20. 20.
    The Barclay's Bank and the British Petroleum Company in Nigeria were nationalized in the late 1970s for transacting business with ...
    1. A.Libya
    2. B.South Africa
    3. C.France
    4. D.Portugal
    Show answer

    Answer: B South Africa

  21. 21.
    The citizenship of a country could be acquired through_______
    1. A.President proclamation
    2. B.Registration and arbitration
    3. C.Birth and naturalization
    4. D.Parliamentary legislature
    Show answer

    Answer: C Birth and naturalization

  22. 22.
    The Economic Community of West African States has made progress in the area of ....
    1. A.Increased trade among members
    2. B.Providing financial aid to members
    3. C.Political integration of the region
    4. D.Free movement of persons and right of residence
    Show answer

    Answer: A Increased trade among members

  23. 23.
    The fees collected by local governments at motor parks represent ______
    1. A.Income tax
    2. B.User charge
    3. C.Fines
    4. D.Levies
    Show answer

    Answer: D Levies

  24. 24.
    The first Nigerian constitution to provide for the Fundamental objectives and directive principles of the state policy was the _________
    1. A.1999 Constitution
    2. B.1979 Constitution
    3. C.1960 Constitution
    4. D.1989 Constitution
    Show answer

    Answer: B 1979 Constitution

  25. 25.
    The fundamental rights of citizens include the following EXCEPT.......
    1. A.Association, property and social security
    2. B.Life, liberty and property
    3. C.Free education, employment and freedom of thought
    4. D.Life, speech and association
    Show answer

    Answer: C Free education, employment and freedom of thought

  26. 26.
    The highest grade in the Civil Service is known as the ............
    1. A.Technical cadre
    2. B.Executive cadre
    3. C.Clerical cadre
    4. D.Administrative cadre
    Show answer

    Answer: D Administrative cadre

  27. 27.
    The independent National Electoral Commission has the power to prepare and maintain the register of.____
    1. A.Electoral candidates
    2. B.Constituencies
    3. C.Political parties
    4. D.Voters
    Show answer

    Answer: D Voters

  28. 28.
    The lbadan Conference of 1950 was convened to discuss the provisions of the ....
    1. A.Richards Constitution
    2. B.Macpherson Constitution
    3. C.Clifford Constitution
    4. D.Lyttleton Constitution
    Show answer

    Answer: B Macpherson Constitution

  29. 29.
    The main function of the Code of Conduct Bureau is to......
    1. A.Give the police more powers to make arrests
    2. B.Ensure accountability in government business
    3. C.Give the judiciary more powers to discipline erring judges
    4. D.Protect public officers from the press
    Show answer

    Answer: B Ensure accountability in government business

  30. 30.
    The major problem of the ECOWAS is lack of _______
    1. A.Uniform ideology
    2. B.Commitment by members
    3. C.Common customs union
    4. D.Common currency
    Show answer

    Answer: D Common currency

  31. 31.
    The Murtala/Obasanjo regime in Nigeria increased the number of states from....
    1. A.30 to 36
    2. B.19 to 20
    3. C.12 to 19
    4. D.4 to 12
    Show answer

    Answer: C 12 to 19

  32. 32.
    The Native Authority System was most effective and successful in .......
    1. A.Mid-western Nigeria
    2. B.Western Nigeria
    3. C.Northern Nigeria
    4. D.Eastern Nigeria
    Show answer

    Answer: C Northern Nigeria

  33. 33.
    The Nigeria's head of government in 1963 was _____
    1. A.Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe
    2. B.General Yakubu Gowon
    3. C.Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa
    4. D.Major Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi
    Show answer

    Answer: C Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa

  34. 34.
    The two military coups that toppled civilian regimes in Nigeria were those of ......
    1. A.February 1976 and December 1983
    2. B.July 1966 and August 1985
    3. C.January 1966 and July 1975
    4. D.January 1966 and December 1983
    Show answer

    Answer: D January 1966 and December 1983

  35. 35.
    The type of government operated in Nigeria between October 1st 1979 to December 3 1983 is called a __________
    1. A.Collegial system of government
    2. B.Presidential system of government
    3. C.Unitary system of government
    4. D.Parliamentary system of government
    Show answer

    Answer: B Presidential system of government

  36. 36.
    Under the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, the power to create local governments is vested in the .....
    1. A.State Assembly
    2. B.National Assembly
    3. C.Office of the deputy governor
    4. D.Presidency
    Show answer

    Answer: A State Assembly

  37. 37.
    Under the 1999 Constitution, the appointment of Ministers and Ambassadors must be ratified by the ........
    1. A.Senate
    2. B.House of Representatives
    3. C.National Council of States
    4. D.Presidency
    Show answer

    Answer: A Senate

  38. 38.
    When Nigeria achieved independence in 1960, the head of state was the _____
    1. A.Queen of England
    2. B.President
    3. C.Prime Minister
    4. D.Governor-General
    Show answer

    Answer: A Queen of England

  39. 39.
    Which of the following is a founding member of OPEC?
    1. A.Indonesia
    2. B.Algeria
    3. C.Venezuela
    4. D.Nigeria
    Show answer

    Answer: C Venezuela

  40. 40.
    Who re-organised the Nigeria's four regions into twelve states in May 1967?
    1. A.General Yakubu Gowon
    2. B.Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu
    3. C.Philip Effiong
    4. D.Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
    Show answer

    Answer: A General Yakubu Gowon

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