JAMB Syllabus for Government 2024/2025 | PDF Download

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the Government syllabus for the 2024/2025 academic session.

This initiative is part of JAMB’s commitment to facilitating comprehensive preparation for candidates for the upcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Objectives of JAMB Syllabus for Government

The JAMB syllabus for the Government aims to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination and to test candidates’ understanding, knowledge, and acquisition of the following areas of the subject:

• Appreciating the Meaning of Government
• Analyzing the framework and specifying the institutions of Government
• Appreciating the basic principles of democratic governance and their application in Nigeria
• Explaining the concept of citizenship and defining the duties and obligations of a citizen;
• Appreciating the process of political development in Nigeria
• Evaluating the political development and problems of governance in Nigeria
• Understanding the determinants and dynamics of foreign policy as it relates to Nigeria
• Assessing the role of Nigeria as a member of the international community and the workings of international organizations.

Topics Under JAMB Government Syllabus

The topics in the JAMB syllabus for Government are divided into four sections;

Section A: Elements Of Government

Topic 1: Basic Concepts in Government

• Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Sovereignty;
• Society, State, Nation, Nation-State;
• Political Processes;
• Political Socialization, Political
• Participation, Political Culture.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Identify the fundamental concepts in governance;
• Analyze various political processes.

Topic 2: Forms of Government

Forms of Government include; Aristocracy, Oligarchy, Monarchy, Republicanism, Democracy, and Autocracy; their definitions, merits, demerits, and features.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Distinguishing between different forms of Government.

Topic 3: The Arms of Government

• The Legislature – its types, structures, functions, and powers
• The Executive – its types, functions, and powers
• The Judiciary – its functions, powers, and components
• The relationship between the arms of government

Objective

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Identifying the duties and obligations of the various arms of Government and their agencies
• Relating each arm to its functions;
• Appreciating how these arms interrelate.

Topic 4: The Structure of Governance

• Unitary – its features, reasons for adoption, merits, and demerits
• Federal – its features, reasons for adoption, merits, and demerits
• Confederal – its features, reasons for adoption, merits, and demerits

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Comparing the various political structures of governance

Topic 5: The Systems of Government

• Presidential
• Parliamentary
• Monarchical

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Distinguishing between the different systems of governance

Topic 6: Political Ideologies

• Communalism, Feudalism, Capitalism;
• Socialism, Communism, Totalitarianism;
• Fascism, Nazism.

Objective

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Differentiating between the major political ideologies;
• Contrasting modes of production

Topic 7: Constitution

• Meaning, Sources, Functions, Types;
• Written, Unwritten, Rigid, and Flexible.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Defining and identifying sources constitutions.
• Identifying the Functions of constitutions;
• Comparing the nature of constitutions.

Topic 8: The Principles of Democratic Government

• Ethics and Accountability in Public office;
• Separation of Power
• Checks and Balances, Individual and Collective responsibility;
• Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, and Representative Government.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Identifying the principles of democratic Government;
• Determining the application of these principles.

Topic 9: The Processes of Legislation

• Legislative Enactments – acts, edicts;
• Bye-laws, delegated legislation, and decrees.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Analyzing the processes involved in the making of laws.

Topic 10: Citizenship

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

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Differentiating between the various methods of acquiring citizenship;
• Specifying the rights and responsibilities of a citizen;
• Assessing the obligations of the state.

Topic 11: The Electoral Processes

• Suffrage – evolution, types;
• Election – types, ingredients of free and fair election;
• Electoral System – types, advantages, and disadvantages of each;
• Electoral Commission – functions, problems.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Distinguishing the different types of franchises
• Identifying and explaining the types of electoral systems
• Analyzing the various electoral processes.

Topic 12: Political Parties and Party Systems

• Political parties – Definition, Organization, and functions.
• Party Systems – Definition, organization, and functions.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Assessing the role of political parties;
• Distinguish between types of party systems.

Topic 13: Pressure Groups

• Definition, types, functions;
• Modes of operation;
• Differences between Pressure Groups;
• Political Parties.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Evaluating the functions and the modus operandi of pressure groups;
• Distinguish between pressure groups and political parties.

Topic 14: Public Opinion

• Meaning, formation, and measurement.
• Functions and limitations.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Comparing methods of assessing public opinion;
• Assessing the functions of public opinion;
• Analyzing the limitations of public opinion.

Topic 15: The Civil Service

• Definition, characteristics, functions;
• Structure, control, and problems.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Analyzing the significance of civil service in governance.

Section B: Political Development in Nigeria

Topic 1: Pre-Colonial Politics

• Pre-jihad Hausa – their structural organization and the functions of their various political institutions.
• Emirate – their structural organization and the functions of their various political institutions.
• Tiv – their structural organization and the functions of their various political institutions.
• Igbo -their structural organization and the functions of their various political institutions.
• Yoruba – their structural organization and the functions of their various political institutions.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Appreciating the effectiveness of the pre-colonial political systems;
• Comparing pre-colonial systems of governance.

Topic 2: The Imperialist Penetration

• The British process of acquisition – trade, missionary activities, company, rule, crown colony, protectorate
• The British colonial administrative policy – direct and indirect rule
• The French colonial administrative policy – assimilation and association
• Impact of British colonial rule – economic, political, and socio-cultural
• Comparison of British and French colonial administration.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Tracing the processes of imperialist penetration;
• Assessing the impact of British and French policies;
• Distinguishing between British and French colonial practices.

Topic 3: The Process of Decolonization

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

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Evaluating the process of decolonization
• Assessing the roles of nationalist leaders and parties
• Assessing the impact of external forces and ideas (Pan-Africanism, back–to–Africa movements, second world war, etc.)

Topic 4: Constitutional Development in Nigeria

• Hugh Clifford Constitution (1922) – features, merits, and demerits.
• Arthur Richards Constitution (1946) – features, merits, and demerits.
• John Macpherson Constitution (1951) – features, merits, and demerits.
• Oliver Lyttleton Constitution (1954) – features, merits, and demerits.
• Independence Constitution (1960) – features, merits, and demerits.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Comparing the various constitutional developments.

Topic 5: Post – Independence Constitutions

• 1963 – characteristics and shortcomings
• 1979 – characteristics and shortcomings
• 1989 – characteristics and shortcomings
• 1999 – characteristics and shortcomings

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Assessing the workings of the various constitutions.

Topic 6: The Institutions of Government in the Post-Independence Nigeria

• The Legislative – structure, functions, and working.
• The Executive – structure, functions, and workings.
• The Judiciary – structure, functions, and workings.

Objective

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Evaluating the operations of the arms of government and their agencies, e.g., the civil service, armed forces, police, courts, and others.

Topic 7: Public Commissions Established by the

1979 and Subsequent Constitutions

• The Civil Service Commission – objectives, functions, and problems.
• The Public Complaints Commission – objectives, functions, and problems.
• Electoral Commissions – objectives, functions, and problems.
• National Boundary Commission – objectives, functions, and problems.
• Others – objectives, functions, and problems.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Evaluating the operations of public commissions;
• Assessing the problems of the Public Commissions and their constraints.

Topic 8: Political Parties and Party Politics in

Post-Independence Nigeria

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

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Contrasting political processes in the republics;
• Evaluating the ideologies, structure, and composition of the political parties.

Topic 9: The Structure and Workings of

Nigerian Federalism

• The rationale for a Federal System
• Tiers of Government and their 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.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Examining the workings of Nigerian federalism
• Identifying its problems;
• Evaluating the corrective measure adopted.

Topic 10: Public Corporations and Parastatals

• Definition, types, purpose, and functions
• Finance, control, and problems
• Deregulation – objectives, features, merits, and demerits
• Privatization – objectives, features, merits, and demerits
• Commercialization – objectives, features, merits, and demerits
• Comparison between public corporations and parastatals.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Examining the operations of public corporations and parastatals;
• Identifying the processes involved in privatization and commercialization;
• Assessing the economic importance of privatization and commercialization.

Topic 11: Local Government

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

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Tracing the evolution and structure of local Government;
• Identifying the major problems faced by local governments.

Topic 12: The Military in Nigerian Politics

• Factors that led to military intervention
• Structure of military regimes
• Impact of military rule – political, e.g., creation of states, the introduction of the unitary system (Unification Decree NO. 34), etc. economic, e.g., SAP, etc.
• Processes of military disengagement.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Evaluating the reasons given for military intervention;
• Assessing the achievements of military rule;
• Determining the conditions that necessitated withdrawal from governance.

Section C: Foreign Policy and Nigeria’s Relations With the International Community

Topic 1: Foreign Policy

• Definition, purpose, determining
• Factors
• Formulation and implementation

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Defining foreign policy, identifying and explaining its determinants.

Topic 2: Nigeria’s Foreign Policy

• Relations with major powers;
• Relations with developing countries, e.g., the Technical Aid Corps (TAC), etc.
• Nigeria’s non-alignment policy

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Identifying the major objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy.
• Analyzing Nigeria’s non-aligned posture

Topic 3: Relations with African Countries

• Africa as the “centerpiece” of Nigeria’s foreign policy – guiding principles, implementation, and implications
• NEPAD – origin, objectives, and implications.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Evaluating the role of Nigeria in continental affairs;
• Assessing the role of NEPAD in developing Africa.

Topic 4: Nigeria in International Organizations

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

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Analyzing the dynamics of Nigeria’s involvement in international organizations;
• Assessing their contribution to the development of Nigeria.

Section D: International Organizations

• ECOWAS – Origin, objectives, structure, functions, achievements, problems, and prospects of these organizations.
• OAU, AU – Origin, objectives, structure, functions, achievements, problems, and prospects of these organizations.
• Commonwealth – Origin, objectives, structure, functions, achievements, problems, and prospects of these organizations.
• OPEC — Origin, objectives, structure, functions, achievements, problems, and prospects of these organizations.
• UNO – Origin, objectives, structure, functions, achievements, problems, and prospects of these organizations.
• African Petroleum Producers Association – Origin, objectives, structure, functions, achievements, problems, and prospects of these organizations.

Objectives

Candidates should be capable of the following;

• Evaluating the operations of these international organizations.
• Assessing the role of these organizations in world affairs.
• Appreciating the challenges of these organizations and how they can be overcome.

Recommended Text for Government UTME

• 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.

PDF Download of JAMB Syllabus for Government 2024/2025

You can now download the JAMB Government syllabus as you prepare for your exams.

Conclusion

The syllabus for Government provided by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is an essential resource for candidates preparing for the JAMB examinations.

It delineates the key topics to be studied and serves as a focused guide for effective exam preparation. Candidates can confidently expect that the majority of the examination questions will be derived directly from the syllabus content.

Candidates are highly recommended to download the syllabus PDF file attached to this post. Furthermore, sharing this resource with peers is encouraged to aid in their successful exam performance.