Government 2, WASSCE (SC), 2021

Question 8

 

Identify five weaknesses of the Independence Constitution of 1960.

Observation

This question was simple and direct. Many of the candidates who attempted it did not perform well; they deviated from the correct answer to sate the changes introduced into Nigeria by the constitution. The candidates were expected to provide the following answers in order to score good marks.

 

  1. Vestiges of colonialism as the Queen remained the constitutional Head of State
  2. The Judicial Committee of the British House of Lords in London was still the highest Court of Appeal
  3. The constitutional making process was not entirely undertaken by Nigerians
  4. The constitution failed to specify  the number of  ministers to be appointed
  5. The constitution failed to address important political issues such as the minority rights /political integration
  6. The constitution did not state that its provisions were supreme
  7. The constitution made the Prime Minister accountable to parliament but not the people