Observation

This question was not quite popular. The few candidates who attempted it had an average performance. More often than not, candidates wrote about the features of a constitution generally rather than streamlining their answers to the 1999 constitution of Nigeria. In other case, candidates mixed up the points they gave in the features and also the significance of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria. They could not give a clear cut between the demands of the questions in both parts which made them lose scores. To this end, those who attempted it wrote a similar pattern of answers. The candidates were expected to provide the following answers to the question:

(a)

i. The constitution is written in a single document.

ii. It is a federal constitution.

iii. It has a rigid procedure for amendments.

iv. It has a bicameral legislature at the Federal level.

v. It provides for unicameral legislature at the states and local government levels.

vi. It provides for 36 states and 774 Local Governments in Nigeria and the procedure for creating new ones.

vii. It identifies the state and people for which the constitution was made (Nigeria and Nigerians).

 

(b)

i. The constitution promotes the oneness and unity of the country.

ii. Its provisions help in the economic and political development of the country.

iii. It guarantees the rights and survival of the minority.

iv. It provides the basis for governmental power at all levels.

v. It provides for legitimacy of government at all levels.

vi. It spells out the modalities for change of government.

vii. It protects rights of individuals and groups in the country.

viii. It provides room for separation of powers and checks and balances/limits of government powers and functions.

ix. It provides basis for good governance.

x. It provides for good relations between Nigeria and the international communities.

xi. The Constitution shares powers and functions of government among the three tiers of government / federalism.

xii. It recognizes Nigerians as the author and maker of the Constitution.

xiii. It gives autonomy to Local government as the third tier of government.

xiv. It provides for smooth transfer of power from the military to democratic government.

xv. It marks the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

xvi. It stipulates the requirements for identifying or acquiring Nigerian citizenship.