JAMB Syllabus for Government 2024

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) syllabus for Government 2024 outlines the topics and areas of focus for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Government. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the syllabus, helping candidates prepare effectively for the exam.

General Objectives

The JAMB Government syllabus aims to assess candidates’ knowledge and understanding of government concepts, principles, and institutions. The objectives include:

Understanding the concept of government and its importance
Analyzing the structure and functions of government
Identifying the roles and responsibilities of government institutions
Evaluating the relationship between government and citizens
Applying government concepts to real-life situations

Topics and Sub-Topics

The 2024 JAMB Government syllabus covers the following topics and sub-topics:

Basic Concepts in Government

Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Sovereignty
Society, State, Nation, Nation-State

Political Processes

Political Socialization, Political Participation, Political Culture

Forms of Government

Monarchy, Aristocracy, Oligarchy, Autocracy, Republicanism, Democracy
Definitions, features, merits, and demerits

Arms of Government

The Legislature: Types, structure, functions, powers
The Executive: Powers, types, functions
The Judiciary: Functions, powers, components
Relationships between the arms of government

Structures of Governance

Unitary: Features, reasons for adoption, merits, and demerits
Federal: Features, reasons for adoption, merits, and demerits
Confederal: Features, reasons for adoption, merits, and demerits

Systems of Governance

Presidential
Parliamentary
Monarchical

Political Ideologies

Communalism
Feudalism
Capitalism
Socialism
Communism
Totalitarianism
Fascism
Nazism

Constitution

Meaning, sources, functions, types (Written, Unwritten, Rigid, Flexible)

Principles of Democratic Government

Ethics and Accountability in Public Office
Separation of Power
Checks and Balances
Individual and Collective Responsibility
Constitutionalism
Rule of Law
Representative Government
Processes of Legislation
Legislative Enactments (Acts, Edicts, Bye-laws, Delegated Legislation, Decrees)

Citizenship

Meaning, types
Citizenship rights
Dual citizenship, renunciation, deprivation
Duties and obligations of citizens and the state

The Electoral Process

Suffrage: Evolution, types
Election types, ingredients of free and fair election

Political Parties and Party Systems

Political parties: Definition, organization, functions
Party Systems: Definition, organization, functions

Pressure Groups

Definition, types, functions, and modes of operation
Differences between Pressure Groups and Political Parties

Public Opinion

Meaning, formation, and measurement
Functions and limitations

The Civil Service

Definition, characteristics, functions, structure, control, and problems

Process of Decolonization

Nationalism: Meaning, types
Nationalist Movements: Emergence, goals, strategies
Nationalist Leaders: Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Ladipo Solanke, Aminu Kano, J. S. Tarka, Tafawa Balewa, and others
Emergence of nationalist parties
Influence of external factors

Constitutional Development in Nigeria

Hugh Clifford Constitution (1922)
Arthur Richards Constitution (1946)
John Macpherson Constitution (1951)
Oliver Lyttleton Constitution (1954)
Independence Constitution (1960)
Features, merits, and demerits
Post-Independence Constitutions: 1963, 1979, 1989, and 1999 constitutions: Characteristics and shortcomings

Institutions of Government in Post-Independence Nigeria

The Legislative: Structures, functions, and workings
The Executive: Structure, functions, and workings
The Judiciary: Structure, functions, and workings

Public Commissions Established by the 1979 and Subsequent Constitutions

The Civil Service Commission
The Public Complaints Commission
Electoral Commissions
National Commission and others: Functions and problems

Political Parties and Party Politics in Post-Independence Nigeria

First Republic
Second Republic
Third Republic
Fourth Republic
Evolution, membership spread, structure, etc.

The Structure and Workings of Nigerian Federalism

Rationale for a Federal System
Tiers of government and relationship
Creation of States (1963, 1967, 1976, 1987, 1991, 1996)
Problems of Nigerian Federalism (Census, revenue allocation, conflicts, etc.)
Solutions (e.g., Federal character, etc.)

Public Corporations and Parastatals

Definition, types, purpose, functions
Finance, control, and problems
Deregulation, privatization, and commercialization (Objectives, features, merits, and demerits)
Comparison between public corporations and parastatals

Local Government

Local government administration prior to 1976
Features of local government reforms (1976, 1989)
Structure, functions, inter-governmental relations
Traditional rulers and local governments
Problems of local government administration in Nigeria

The Military in Nigerian Politics

Factors that led to military intervention
Structure of military regimes
Impact of military rule (Political, economic, etc.)
Processes of military disengagement

Foreign Policy

Definition, purpose, determining factors
Formulation and implementation

Nigeria’s Foreign Policy

Relations with developing countries (e.g., Technical Aid Corps (TAC))
Relations with major powers
Nigeria’s Non-Alignment Policy
Nigeria’s Relations with African Countries
Africa as the “centre piece” of Nigeria’s foreign policy
Guiding principles, implementation, and implications
NEPAD (Origin, objectives, and implications)

Nigeria in International Organizations

The United Nations
The Commonwealth
The Organization of African Unity (OAU)
The African Union (AU)
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

International Organizations

ECOWAS
OAU, AU
Commonwealth
OPEC
UNO
African Petroleum Producers Association

Recommended Texts for Government Syllabus

Adigwe, F (1985) Essentials of Government for West Africa, Ibadan: University Press Plc.
Anifowose, R and Enemuo, F. C. (eds) (1999) Elements of Politics, Lagos; Malthouse Press Limited.
Appadorai, A. (1978) The Substance of Politics, London: Oxford University Press.
Ball, A. R. (1983) Modern Politics and Government, London: Macmillan.
Ofoegbu, R. (1977) Government for the Certificate Year, London: George Allen and Unwin.
Olawale, J. B (1987) New Topics on Ordinary Level Government, Ilesha: Jola Publishing.
Oyediran, O. Nwosu, H., Takaya, B., Anifowoshe, R., Femi, B., Godwill, O. and Adigun, A. (1990) Government for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1, 2 and 3, Ibadan: Longman.
Oyeneye, I., Onyenwenu, M. and Olusunde, B. E. (2000) Round-Up Government for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination: A Complete Guide, Ibadan: Longman.
Oyovbaire, S., Ogunna, A. E. C., Amucheazi, E. C., Coker, H. O. and Oshuntuyi, O. (2001) Countdown to Senior Secondary Certificate Examination: Government, Ibadan: Evans.

Conclusion

The JAMB Government syllabus provides a comprehensive outline of topics and areas of focus for the UTME exam. Remember to practice and develop critical thinking skills to excel in the Government paper. Wishing you all the best in your examination.

Download the JAMB Syllabus for Government 2024 PDF.

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