In this article, you will be shown the syllabus of the NECO SSCE Government exam this year. In other words, it will provide you with a comprehensive list of all the government-recommended reading materials, authors, and topics that you should read in order to be prepared for the NECO examination.
The government has realized that most students find the subject very difficult, and in order to assist them, it has made the NECO Government syllabus available for students who are ready to pass their examinations. As a result, it has chosen to provide a topic from which all of the NECO SSCE questions and answers will be derived. It’s important to keep in mind that all of the government-related questions on your exam will be based on the NECO syllabus.
Aims And Objectives
The purpose of this syllabus is to gauge the candidate’s capacity for:
(a) Describe the ideas behind government and demonstrate your knowledge of its guiding principles, institutions, and procedures.
(b) acknowledge their responsibility as informed citizens and the contributions they have made to the advancement of the nation.
(c) Analyze the achievements, shortcomings, and issues of West African governments.
(d) Analyze the processes and developments in the colonial and post-independent government constitutions.
(e) understand the importance of their nation’s membership in the global community.
Scheme Of The Examination
There will be two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2, both of which must be taken. The first and second papers will be taken together in one sitting and will be composites.
PAPER 1: There will be fifty multiple-choice, objective questions on the whole curriculum. Candidates will have one hour to complete all of the questions for 40 points.
PAPER 2: It will take two sections and two hours to complete this essay-style test.
Section A: Elements of Government
Candidates must attempt any two of the five questions in the test, which will have five total.
Section B: Political and Constitutional Developments in West Africa and International Relations
Each set of five questions will represent a different member country. Each candidate must respond to two questions from the list related to the nation in which the exam is being taken. There will be 60 marks on the paper.
Recommended Textbook for Government
a. Essential Government by C.C. Dibie
b. Government Simplified by O.A. Ubaka
SECTION A: Elements Of Government
1. MEANING AND SCOPE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER – GOVERNMENT
(i) Government as an institution of the state. Definition of state, features, structure, and functions.
(ii) Government as a process or art or governing.
(iii) Government as an academic field of study – reasons for studying government.
2. BASIC CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT
(i) Basic concepts – State, *Society, *Nation, Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Sovereignty, Democracy, Political Culture and Socialization, Communalism, Feudalism, oligarchy, *Liberalism, Socialism, Communism, Capitalism, Fascism, Aristocracy, Totalitarianism. Meaning and features.
(ii) Basic principles – Rule of Law, Fundamental Human Rights, Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances, Constitutionalism, Political participation, Representative Government, Centralization, and Decentralization – (Delegated Legislation, Devolution and Decentralization).
3. CONSTITUTIONS
(i) Definition and Sources
(ii) Functions
(iii) Types and Features, (Written and Unwritten, Rigid and Flexible).
4. ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT
The Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary – Judicial Independence. (Types, Structure, Composition/membership; Functions; Powers, and Limitations).
5. STATE STRUCTURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GOVERNMENT
(a) Types – Unitary, Federal, Confederal, Presidential or Non-parliamentary,
Parliamentary or Cabinet, Monarchical and Republican.
Meaning, types, features, merits, and demerits.
6. CITIZENSHIP
Meaning, mode of acquisition, rights, duties, and obligations of individuals in the state.
Means of safeguarding rights of citizens.
7. POLITICAL PARTIES AND PARTY SYSTEMS
(i) Political Parties – definition, organization/structure, and functions.
(ii) Party Systems – definition, types, merits, and demerits.
8. PRESSURE GROUPS, PUBLIC OPINION, AND MASS MEDIA
(i) Pressure Groups – definition, types, mode of operation, and functions;
(ii) Public opinion – definition, formation, Measurement, and importance;
(iii) Mass Media – definition, roles, and impact.
9. THE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS, PROCESSES, AND ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT BODY
(a) Electoral Systems and Processes (i) Election- Meaning and purpose of elections. (ii) Franchise – meaning, and limitations. (iii) Types, advantages, and disadvantages of Electoral Systems. (b) Electoral Management Body – definition, function, problems/constraints.
10. PUBLIC/CIVIL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION
(i) Public/Civil Service – Meaning, Structure, Characteristics, and Functions.
(ii) Public/Civil Service Commission –meaning and Functions.
(iii) Public Corporations – definition, purposes, functions, control, challenges, need for commercialization, and privatization.
(iv) Local Governments – Meaning, structure, Purposes, Functions, Sources of revenue, control, and problems.
SECTION B: Political And Constitutional Development In West Africa And International Relations
11. PRE-COLONIAL POLITICAL SYSTEM OF CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES
The Structural Organization of the following: (a) Nigeria – Hausa/Fulani, the Yoruba, and the Igbo.
(b) Ghana – The Akan and the Talensi.
(c) Sierra Leone – The Mende and Temme.
(d) The Gambia – The Wolof, Mandingo and Jola.
(e) Liberia – The Vai and the Kru.
12. COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION
(i) The Policy and Structure of the British Colonial Administration – Crown Colony, Protectorate, and Indirect Rule.
(ii) The Policy of French Colonial Administration – Assimilation and Association (Loi Cadre).
(iii) Impact, Advantages, and Disadvantages of Colonial Rule.
13. NATIONALISM IN CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES
(i) Nationalism: Meaning, factors, and effects.
(ii) Key Nationalist leaders/movements and their contributions.
14. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES
(i) Pre-Independence Constitutions –
(a) Nigeria (features) – Clifford 1922 Richards 1946 Macpherson 1951 Littleton 1954
(b) Ghana (features, merits, and demerits) – Clifford 1916 Guggisberg 1925 Burns 1946 Arden Clarke 1951 Nkrumah 1954
(c) Sierra Leone (features, merits,, and demerits) – Slatter 1924 Stevenson 1947 Beresford Stooke 1951 The 1956 and 1958 Constitutions.
(d) The Gambia (features, merits, and demerits) – 1947, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1962, and 1963 Constitutions.
(ii) Post-Independence Constitutions – Features
(a) Nigeria – Independence Constitution, 1960 Republican Constitution 1963 The 1979 and 1989 Constitutions 1999 Constitution – Origin, features, strengths, and Weaknesses.
(b) Ghana – Independence Constitution, 1957 Republican Constitution 1960 2nd Republican Constitution 1969 3rd Republican Constitution 1979 4th Republican Constitution 1992.
(c) Sierra Leone – Independence Constitution 1961 Republican Constitution 1971 The 1978 and 1991 Constitutions,
(d) The Gambia – Independence Constitution 1965 Republican Constitution 1970. 2nd Republican Constitution 1997
(e) Liberia – Independence/Republican Constitution 1947 2nd Republican Constitution 1985
15. DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES
– Nigeria – Sierra Leone – The Gambia – Liberia Formation, Objectives, Sources of Finance, Achievements, and Failures
16. MILITARY RULE IN THE CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES.
Nigeria – Ghana; – Sierra Leone – The Gambia – Liberia Causes, effects, and various military regimes.
17. FEDERAL/UNITARY SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT IN WEST AFRICA – Nigeria – Sierra Leone – The Gambia – Liberia Origin, Factors, Structure, Features, and Problems
18. FOREIGN POLICIES OF THE CANDIDATES’ RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES
Nigeria – Ghana – Sierra Leone – The Gambia – Liberia Definitions, Factors, objectives, advantages, and Disadvantages.
19. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The United Nations Organizations (UNO), The Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union (AU) – NEPAD, and The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Origin aims/objectives, achievements, and problems.
The syllabus is accurate and created to make it simple for you to pass the test. Make sure you do it, then give your account later.