Although, the question was very straightforward only few candidates attempted it. The few candidates that attempted it scored low marks in it. Candidates did well in the (a) part of the question i.e. they were able to explain concurrent functions as the list of functions in a federal constitution whereby both federating units and central government can legislate.
They were handsomely rewarded for this.
However, the (b) part was difficult for the candidates. Instead of writing on the features of the confederal system, some wrote on federal system of government. This robbed them of enormous marks.
Some of the points candidates left out in their answers included:
- it has a very weak center;
- the confederating units are nearly autonomous;
- secession of any component unit is allowed;
- it allows component units to develop at their own pace;
- citizens’ allegiance is more to the component units than to the confederacy;
- individual units co-operate on specific areas such as foreign affairs, currency, defence, etc.