NABTEB 2026 Government Answers — Type C. NOTE: Options A, B, C & D are the same but reshuffled. Use the answers provided to trace the correct questions in your booklet before answering. WE USED TYPE-C IN SOLVING, SO TRACE FROM YOUR QUESTIONS BEFORE COPYING THE ANSWERS.

OBJ ANSWERS (01–50)

OBJ answers will be updated shortly.

ESSAY ANSWERS

PART I: ANSWER THREE (3) QUESTIONS

Question 1

(1a) Functions of the Legislature:

• Law-making: The legislature is responsible for making laws that guide the conduct of citizens and regulate government activities. It debates, amends, and passes bills into law.
• Representation: Members of the legislature act on behalf of their constituents by presenting their needs, complaints, and interests in government decisions.
• Oversight function: The legislature checks and monitors the executive to ensure that laws are properly implemented and public resources are not misused.
• Approval of budget: It examines, debates, and approves the national budget to ensure that government spending is properly planned and accountable.
• Amendment of the constitution: The legislature has the power to modify or update the constitution when necessary, following established legal procedures.

(1b) Types of Legislature:

• Unicameral Legislature: A unicameral legislature is a law-making body that consists of only one chamber where all legislative functions are carried out. It allows faster decision-making and reduces the cost of governance since there is no second house for review of bills. Examples: Ghana (Parliament of Ghana), Kenya (The Knesset — 120 members), China (National People’s Congress).
• Bicameral Legislature: A bicameral legislature is a law-making system that consists of two separate chambers, usually an upper and a lower house. Bills must pass through both houses before becoming law, ensuring wider scrutiny and more balanced decision-making. Examples: Nigeria (Senate and House of Representatives), United States (Senate and House of Representatives), United Kingdom (House of Lords and House of Commons).

Question 2

(2a) Components of Political Culture:

• Cognitive component
• Affective component
• Evaluative component

(2b) Explanation of Components:

• Cognitive component: This refers to the knowledge, awareness, and understanding that citizens have about the political system, government institutions, and political processes.
• Affective component: This refers to the feelings, emotions, and attachments that people have towards their political system, leaders, and political institutions.
• Evaluative component: This refers to the judgments, opinions, and assessments people make about the performance of the government and political institutions based on their values and beliefs.

(2c) Elements/Characteristics of a State:

• Population: A state must have people who permanently reside within it.
• Territory: A state must possess a defined geographical area with recognized boundaries.
• Government: A state must have an organized authority responsible for making and enforcing laws.
• Sovereignty: A state must have supreme authority over its internal and external affairs without external control.
• Permanence: A state continues to exist even when governments or leaders change.
• Recognition: A state should be recognized by other states and international organizations.
• Legal system: A state must have laws and institutions for maintaining order and justice.
• Ability to enter international relations: A state must be capable of establishing diplomatic and economic relations with other states.
• Independence: A state must be free from the control of another state in conducting its affairs.
• Organized administration: A state must have institutions and agencies for effective governance and service delivery.

Question 3

(3a) Differences Between Political Parties and Pressure Groups:

• Aim: Political parties aim to win political power and form government, while pressure groups aim to influence government decisions without contesting elections.
• Membership: Political party membership is broad and open to citizens with similar political ideas, while pressure groups have limited membership based on a specific interest or cause.
• Scope of interest: Political parties deal with wide national issues affecting all areas of governance, while pressure groups focus on specific issues such as labour rights, education, or environment.
• Election participation: Political parties participate in elections and present candidates, while pressure groups do not contest elections but may support or oppose candidates.
• Responsibility: Political parties are responsible for forming and running government when elected, while pressure groups only act as advocates and critics of government policies.

(3b) Methods Used by Pressure Groups:

• Lobbying: Pressure groups contact lawmakers and government officials directly to influence policies and decisions in their favour.
• Publicity and media campaigns: They use newspapers, radio, television, and social media to create awareness and gain public support for their cause.
• Strikes and industrial action: Some pressure groups, especially labour unions, use strikes and work stoppages to pressure government or employers to meet their demands.
• Demonstrations and protests: They organize rallies, marches, and peaceful protests to show public support and draw attention to their demands.
• Petitions and legal action: They submit petitions or take legal cases to court to challenge government decisions or seek enforcement of rights.

Question 4

(4a) Definition of Legitimacy: Legitimacy is the acceptance and recognition of a government or political authority by the people as having the legal and moral right to rule. It means that citizens regard the government as lawful and are willing to obey its laws and directives without the use of force.

(4b) Ways of Achieving Legitimacy:

• Free and fair elections
• Good governance
• Constitutional rule
• Popular support of the people
• Protection of fundamental human rights

(4c) Explanation:

• Free and fair elections: A government gains legitimacy when leaders are elected through credible, transparent, and democratic elections.
• Good governance: When a government provides security, welfare, and development for its citizens, it earns public acceptance and legitimacy.
• Constitutional rule: A government that operates according to the constitution and the rule of law is more likely to be regarded as legitimate.
• Popular support of the people: Legitimacy is strengthened when the majority of citizens approve of and support the government.
• Protection of fundamental human rights: A government that respects and protects the rights and freedoms of citizens is more likely to gain their trust and acceptance.

Question 5

(5a) Definition of Public Opinion: Public opinion refers to the collective views, attitudes, beliefs, and feelings of members of the public about government policies, political issues, leaders, and public affairs. It represents what the majority of citizens think or feel about matters affecting society and plays an important role in influencing government decisions and policies.

(5b) Ways of Measuring Public Opinion:

• Opinion polls
• Elections/voting results
• Mass media feedback
• Referendum
• Public demonstrations/protests

(5c) Explanation:

• Opinion polls: These are surveys conducted to collect the views of a sample of people in order to estimate the opinion of the larger population on political or social issues.
• Elections/voting results: The outcome of elections shows the preference of the people and indicates their support or rejection of candidates, parties, or policies.
• Mass media feedback: Public opinions are measured through letters, phone-in programmes, social media comments, and discussions expressed through newspapers, radio, and television.
• Referendum: This is a direct vote by the electorate on a specific issue or policy, and the result reflects the general opinion of the people on that matter.
• Public demonstrations/protests: Rallies, strikes, and protests show the strength of public feelings and are used to express support or opposition to government policies.

PART II: ANSWER TWO (2) QUESTIONS ONLY

Question 6

(6a) Institutions of the Oyo Empire:

• The Alaafin (King): The Alaafin was the supreme ruler of the Oyo Empire. He exercised political and religious authority, approved major decisions of the empire, and served as the symbol of unity and sovereignty. However, his powers were checked by other political institutions.
• The Oyo Mesi (Council of State): The Oyo Mesi was a council made up of seven powerful chiefs who acted as advisers to the Alaafin. They checked the excesses of the king, advised him on governance, and had the power to demand his abdication if he ruled against the interest of the people.

(6b) Functions of the Ogboni Society:

• Judicial function: The Ogboni Society acted as a court that settled disputes, especially serious cases such as land matters, murder, and offences against tradition.
• Check on the king’s power: They served as a powerful institution that controlled and limited the excesses of the Oba, ensuring that he ruled according to custom.
• Religious function: They performed important religious duties, including rituals and worship connected to ancestral spirits and earth deities.
• Legislative role: The society contributed to law-making by supporting customs and ensuring that traditional laws were obeyed in the kingdom.
• Maintenance of peace and order: They helped to maintain stability in society by discouraging wrongdoing and enforcing moral discipline among citizens.

Question 7

(7a) Problems Facing the AU:

• Lack of political unity: Member states often pursue national interests instead of collective African goals, making it difficult for the AU to act as one strong body.
• Financial constraints: The AU depends heavily on external funding, which limits its independence and weakens its ability to implement programmes effectively.
• Poor implementation of decisions: Many resolutions passed by the AU are not enforced by member states due to lack of strong enforcement mechanisms.
• Conflicts and instability in member states: Civil wars, coups, and political instability in some African countries weaken the effectiveness of the organization.
• Weak military and security cooperation: The AU lacks a strong unified force to intervene quickly in conflicts, reducing its ability to maintain peace and security.

(7b) Problems Facing ECOWAS:

• Language barrier: ECOWAS members speak different official languages such as English, French, and Portuguese, which hinders smooth communication and integration.
• Political instability: Frequent coups, civil wars, and unstable governments in some member states disrupt regional cooperation and development.
• Poor transportation and communication network: Inadequate infrastructure makes trade and movement of people and goods across borders difficult.
• Economic disparity among members: Member states differ greatly in levels of development, making it difficult to implement uniform economic policies.
• Non-compliance with ECOWAS protocols: Some member states fail to implement agreed policies such as free movement of people and trade liberalization.

Question 8

(8a) Significance of the Lyttleton Constitution:

• Federal structure: It firmly established Nigeria as a federal state with clear division of powers between the central and regional governments, reducing over-centralization.
• Regional autonomy: It gave greater self-governing powers to the regions, allowing them to manage their own affairs such as education, health, and local administration.
• Promotion of unity in diversity: By accommodating different ethnic and regional interests within a federal system, it helped reduce political tension among groups.
• Foundation for independence: It served as an important constitutional step towards full independence by strengthening internal self-government structures.
• Legislative development: It introduced more organized legislative structures at both regional and central levels, improving law-making and governance experience.

(8b) Features of the 1960 Independence Constitution:

• Independence of Nigeria: Nigeria became a sovereign state on 1st October 1960, ending British colonial rule.
• Parliamentary system of government: It introduced a parliamentary system where the Prime Minister was the head of government.
• Head of state arrangement: The British monarch remained the ceremonial head of state, represented in Nigeria by a Governor-General.
• Federal structure: Nigeria continued as a federation with regions having certain legislative and administrative powers.
• Fundamental human rights: The constitution guaranteed basic rights such as freedom of speech, association, and religion.
• Bicameral legislature: A federal parliament consisting of two houses (Senate and House of Representatives) was established.
• Independent judiciary: The constitution provided for an independent court system to ensure justice and rule of law.
• Citizenship provision: It defined who qualified as a Nigerian citizen at independence and how citizenship could be acquired.

Question 9

(9a) Definition of Indirect Rule: Indirect rule is a system of colonial administration in which the British governed Nigeria through existing traditional rulers and institutions. The colonial government made policies and supervised administration, while local chiefs implemented laws and collected taxes under British control.

(9b) Reasons for the Introduction of Indirect Rule:

• Cost reduction: Indirect rule was introduced to reduce the cost of administration by using existing traditional rulers instead of employing many British officials.
• Shortage of manpower: There were not enough British administrators to govern the large Nigerian territory, so local chiefs were used to assist in governance.
• Use of existing traditional institutions: Nigeria already had established traditional political systems, which the British found convenient to use for administration.
• Language and communication barrier: Indirect rule helped solve communication problems since local rulers understood the language and culture of the people.
• Ease of administration: It made governance easier because the British ruled indirectly through a few selected native authorities rather than dealing with every community directly.
• Maintenance of law and order: Traditional rulers were used to enforce laws, collect taxes, and maintain peace at the local level.
• Avoidance of resistance: Using familiar traditional rulers reduced opposition from the people, as they were more acceptable than foreign administrators.
• Limited knowledge of local customs: The British had little understanding of Nigerian traditions, so indirect rule allowed them to govern without interfering deeply in local culture.

Share this with your fellow candidates! 🎓