• NATIONAL VALUES: INTEGRITY
• INTEGRITY
• CONTENTMENT
• EFFECTS OF LACK OF CONTENTMENT
• DISCIPLINE
• RESPECT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS
• COURAGE
• ATTRIBUTES OF COURAGEOUS PERSONS IN THE SOCIETY
• GOVERNANCE: NIGERIA AS A FEDERATION
• CHARACTERISTICS OF A FEDERATION

National Values: Integrity

Civic JSS2 First Term

Week 1 & 2

Topic: Integrity

Content

• Meaning of Integrity
• Attributes of Integrity
• Need  for People of Integrity in the Society

One of the qualities that a person should aspire to have is Integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and always having high moral principles in all you do. Principles are moral rules or sets of ideas which make you behave in a particular way. Integrity has a lot of attributes and features especially those that are considered good or useful. Some of these attributes are:

Attributes  of Integrity

1. Honesty:It is the ability of being truthful and straight forward at all times. Honesty is an intrinsic value that has the quality of being straightforward, reliable, truthful, sincere and godly in human activities. To be honest means to be responsible, respectable and fearlessly truthful.
   An honest person is usually committed to his words and disapproves of corrupt tendencies. He is well regarded, respected and looked up to as a societal model and source of godly inspiration.
   Features of Honesty
   An honest person possesses certain features which distinguishes him from the public.
   These include:
   I. Being committed to duty and the task set before him.
   II. Showing uncompromising support for justice and truth.
   III. Being trustworthy this brings him dignity and integrity.
   IV. Living a disciplined life which shows in his being reliable and dependable.
   V. Being bold and courageous to defend the truth and condemn permissive living.
   VI. Being self-assertive and self-reliant.
   VII. Being alert to one’s conscience and to the public.
   Benefits of Honesty
   Honesty has the following benefits to the individual and society:
   I. It leads to economic, social and political advancement.
   II. Honesty removes fear, bitterness and acrimony in the social, political and economic circumstances of life.
   III. Honesty attracts patronage and good work to the individual and society
   IV. Honesty has unsolicited defenders, protectors, admirers and lovers.
   V. Honesty promotes justice and fair play among individual members of a society.
2. Selflessness:It is the ability to show more interest in the welfare of other people
3. Courage:This is ability to face difficulty, danger or pain without fear.
4. Integrity:It is the ability to stand and stick to sound morals and principle at all times.
5. Sincerity :it is the ability to be open minded and to have clear mind towards issue
6. Co-operation:Ability to work with other people to achieve a common goal.
7. Fairplay:It is the ability of been considerate and to avoid cheating. This is the state of being impartial in your treatment to other people.
8. Justice:It is the ability of being just,righteous and upright.
9. Contentment: It is a means of being happy and satisfied with what one has. Happiness and satisfaction gives a person of integrity the mind to plan to work harder in life. Contentment cancels greed and covetousness from te life of a person of Integrity.  
10. Truthfulness: This is the act of being sincere in action, character and utterance. If a person is truthful, what he says does not contradic what he does.

Examples of People in the Society with Integrity

1. Late Professor Dora Akinyuli – The former DirectorGeneral of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control. She has worked contentiously more than all those who ave headed that agency.
2. Religious leaders such as Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Salas, Shiek Muydeen Ajani Bello, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, Reverend Felix Meduoye and other religious leaders. 
3. Gani Fawehimi (SAN) – A reputable lawyer who hates to see people cheated. He criticizes positively and stood to fight for the common man.

People of integrity maintain high standards and moral principles in the society. They are sincere, honest and exhibit fai-paly in all their dealings with people. Their live styles will affect everyone around them especially young people.

ASSESSMENT

1. Define integrity?
2. List TWO attributes of integrity?
3. List TWO examples of people in the society with integrity?

Integrity

Civic JSS2 First Term

Week 1 & 2

Topic: Integrity

Content

• Meaning of Integrity
• Attributes of Integrity
• Need  for People of Integrity in the Society

One of the qualities that a person should aspire to have is Integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and always having high moral principles in all you do. Principles are moral rules or sets of ideas which make you behave in a particular way. Integrity has a lot of attributes and features especially those that are considered good or useful. Some of these attributes are:

Attributes  of Integrity

1. Honesty:It is the ability of being truthful and straight forward at all times. Honesty is an intrinsic value that has the quality of being straightforward, reliable, truthful, sincere and godly in human activities. To be honest means to be responsible, respectable and fearlessly truthful.
   An honest person is usually committed to his words and disapproves of corrupt tendencies. He is well regarded, respected and looked up to as a societal model and source of godly inspiration.
   Features of Honesty
   An honest person possesses certain features which distinguishes him from the public.
   These include:
   I. Being committed to duty and the task set before him.
   II. Showing uncompromising support for justice and truth.
   III. Being trustworthy this brings him dignity and integrity.
   IV. Living a disciplined life which shows in his being reliable and dependable.
   V. Being bold and courageous to defend the truth and condemn permissive living.
   VI. Being self-assertive and self-reliant.
   VII. Being alert to one’s conscience and to the public.
   Benefits of Honesty
   Honesty has the following benefits to the individual and society:
   I. It leads to economic, social and political advancement.
   II. Honesty removes fear, bitterness and acrimony in the social, political and economic circumstances of life.
   III. Honesty attracts patronage and good work to the individual and society
   IV. Honesty has unsolicited defenders, protectors, admirers and lovers.
   V. Honesty promotes justice and fair play among individual members of a society.
2. Selflessness:It is the ability to show more interest in the welfare of other people
3. Courage:This is ability to face difficulty, danger or pain without fear.
4. Integrity:It is the ability to stand and stick to sound morals and principle at all times.
5. Sincerity :it is the ability to be open minded and to have clear mind towards issue
6. Co-operation:Ability to work with other people to achieve a common goal.
7. Fairplay:It is the ability of been considerate and to avoid cheating. This is the state of being impartial in your treatment to other people.
8. Justice:It is the ability of being just,righteous and upright.
9. Contentment: It is a means of being happy and satisfied with what one has. Happiness and satisfaction gives a person of integrity the mind to plan to work harder in life. Contentment cancels greed and covetousness from te life of a person of Integrity.  
10. Truthfulness: This is the act of being sincere in action, character and utterance. If a person is truthful, what he says does not contradic what he does.

Examples of People in the Society with Integrity

1. Late Professor Dora Akinyuli – The former DirectorGeneral of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control. She has worked contentiously more than all those who ave headed that agency.
2. Religious leaders such as Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Salas, Shiek Muydeen Ajani Bello, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, Reverend Felix Meduoye and other religious leaders. 
3. Gani Fawehimi (SAN) – A reputable lawyer who hates to see people cheated. He criticizes positively and stood to fight for the common man.

People of integrity maintain high standards and moral principles in the society. They are sincere, honest and exhibit fai-paly in all their dealings with people. Their live styles will affect everyone around them especially young people.

ASSESSMENT

1. List 5 attributes of integrity
2. What are some benefits of honesty?
3. Mention 4 features of honesty
4. Define Integrity.
5. Define Justice.
6. List 3 examples of people in the society with integrity.

Contentment

JSS 2 Civic Education First Term

Week 3
Topic: Contentment

Contents –

• Meaning
• Attributes of contentment
• Importance of contentment
• Effects of lack of contentment

Contentment

Contentment simply means a state of being happy and satisfied with what one has. A contented person is not always going above the law to possess riches but satisfied with the one he/she is able to get. Contentment is a mental or emotional state of satisfaction drawn from being at ease in one’s situation, body and mind. Colloquially speaking, contentment is a state of having accepted one’s situation and is a form of happiness. Contentment means being satisfied with one’s possessions, status or situation, though they might be insignificant.

 A contented person is a one who realizes that contentment starts from the inside with a satisfied mind and a cheerful heart. A contented person is one who is satisfied with who they are, what they are and are not looking or demanding for more. In moral sciences, the word ‘contentment’ is used to mean the opposite of greed or excessive and rapacious desire. The trait of contentment causes man to suffice to the amount he needs and to avoid craving for more. In fact, contentment is a feeling of calm and active happiness. Somebody who is content does not feel the need to put forth any effort into achieving something because he or she is satisfied with his portion.

Contentment is not about getting what you want but appreciative and satisfied with the one you have gotten.

Attributes of Contentment

1. Hatred for greed: Greed is the desire for more than what a person needs or can afford to have. A contended person will hate greed.
2. Satisfaction: Satisfaction is being contended and act of deriving joy in what a person has. A contended person will be satisfied with whatever he/she has.
3. Humility: A contended person is usually humble, does not brag with whatever he/she has.
4. Shuns envy: Envy is the act of getting something by all means. e.g. Mr. Ade has a house in Ajah while Mr. B lives in a room and parlor at Mushin, the desire of Mr. B to have his own house at Ajah by all means which may even lead him to killing Mr. A or stealing money is envy. Therefore a contended person shuns envy.

Importance of Contentment

1. It helps to eliminate jealousy and envy in people
2. It leads to peaceful and developed society
3. It promotes tolerance in the country
4. It reduces the feelings of inferiority among the people
5. It gives a person a peaceful heart

Discontentment is actually the state of experiencing dissatisfaction, unhappiness, restlessness, greediness and disgruntlement.

Effects of Lack of Contentment

1. It leads to corruption
2. It makes a man greedy
3. It results into envy and jealousy
4. It can lead into prostitution
5. it leads into cheating
6. It can also lead to theft
7. Dissatisfaction and unhappiness can lead to depression

Assessment

1. A state of being happy and satisfied with what one has is
   (a) integrity
   (b) selflessness
   (c) honesty
   (d) contentment.
   
   
2. One of these is not the attribute of contentment
   (a) shun envy
   (b) satisfaction
   (c) bribery
   (d) humility.
   
   
3. Contentment is important because
   (a) it makes a person jealous
   (b) it create opportunity for stealing
   (c) It gives a person peaceful heart
   (d) it is an opportunity to kill.
   ans ( c)
4. Lack of contentment can lead to all except
   (a) theft
   (b) corruption
   (c) love
   (d) prostitution
5. Contentment is a good value everybody must possess true/false.

Answers

1. D
2. C
3. C
4. D
5. True

Effects of Lack of Contentment

Civic Education JSS2 First Term

Week 4

Topic: Effects of Lack of Contentment

Introduction

Due to the quest for wealth, power, popularity etc many people in the society do things in the wrong ways and this has a negative impact on the society. Some of such negative ways include:

A. Corruption: This is a dishonest, illegal or immoral behaviour especially from someone with power. Corruption is a form of dishonest or unethical conduct by a person entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit. Corruption may include many activities including bribery and embezzlement, though it may also involve practices that are legal in many countries. Many people who are in position of authority misbehave by being dishonest.
They enrich themselves through illegal ways. Money given to such people to do some projects for the public are converted to their personal use. They take advantage of the position to be involved in immoral relationship with the opposite sex. 
Corruption destroys honesty among citizens. People reap where they have not sown. Immoral relationship becomes the order of the day. Corruption is a disease that ruins if not taken care of.

Types of Corruption 

1. Bribery – Bribery involves the improper use of gifts and favours in exchange for personal gain.
2. Embezzlement – Embezzlement and theft involve someone with access to funds or assets illegally taking control of them.
3. Fraud – Fraud involves using deception to convince the owner of funds or assets to give them up to an unauthorized party.
4. Extortion and Blackmail – While bribery is the use of positive inducements for corrupt aims, extortion and blackmail centre around the use of threats. This can be the threat of violence or false imprisonment as well as exposure of an individual’s secrets or prior crimes.
5. Abuse of Discretion – This refers to the misuse of one’s powers and decision-making facilities. Examples include a judge improperly dismissing a criminal case or a customs official using their discretion to allow a banned substance through a port.
6. Favouritism, nepotism and clientelism  – This involves the favouring of not the perpetrator of corruption but someone related to them, such as a friend, family member or member of an association. Examples would include hiring or promoting a family member or staff member to a role they are not qualified for, who belongs to the same political party as you, regardless of merit.

B. Greed: This is a strong desire for more food, drink than what you need. It could also be a strong desire for more money, power and possession than your need. This wicked desire in some people leave many people in poverty of such things. When a greedy person is in position, he grabs and grabs and grabs till there is nothing left for other people. Greedy people may hinder even development, make some people and places perpetually poor because they do not allow things to get to such people and places as it ought to because of their greedy tendencies.

Some examples of greed that don’t include money are:

• A person who takes all of the cookies in the house for himself, not sharing even though he know others will want some. 
• A person at work who takes credit for the hard work of others and who takes a larger share of the bonus money or prize for sales, even if he didn’t actually do anything to earn it. 
• An employee who takes lavish vacations at the expense of his employer by claiming that the vacations are business trips, even when they really aren’t. 

C. Envy: This is a painful desire to enjoy or have what another is having or enjoying. Many people who are envious go all out to achieve their desires. Most envious people are people who are not contented with what they have. They continue to eye the benefits by other people. For example, people envying others are likely to get such people eliminated by

• Working against them
• Criticize such people unnecessarily
• May plan the killing of such people

This envy can hinder development in the society. It can also lead to misunderstanding

D. Theft: People who are not contented with what they have always plan to steal other people’s things or the things belonging to the government. Stealing destroys the economy. Stealing hinders people enjoying things they would have been enjoying. 

E. Prostitution: This is a way of using your skill, ability in the way that does not show its true value. Lack of contentment makes people to prostitute their abilities, skills or body in the process of earning money for a living. The word “prostitution” can also be used metaphorically to mean debasing oneself or working towards an unworthy cause or “selling out”. People who prostitute are likely to be victims of unexpected circumstances. Prostituting abilities have also lead to brain drain from one society to another. Those who prostitute their bodies have become victims of one sexually transmitted disease or the other most commonly HIV/AIDS.

F. Robbery: This is the crime of stealing that involves using violence. Many people today take to robbery to earn a living. Some go to the extent of arming themselves. So anybody who stands on their way is threatened, injured or killed. Properties and money acquired through a long savings and pain are taken away. Lives and properties are also destroyed in the process of robbery.

G. Cheating: It is to behave in a dishonest way in order to win or to get an advantage especially in a competition, game or examination. When people cheat in a competition or game, the true champion or winner is not known. The supposed winner in a cheating case often disappoints those they are representing . Those who cheat in examination are only qualified on paper, they are not skillful or knowledgeable. They disgrace themselves when tested on things they are supposed to know. They become square pegs in a round hole.

Assessment

Give specific real life examples of Cheating, Corruption and Robbery.

Discipline

Civic Education JSS2 First Term

Week 5

Topic: Discipline

Meaning of Discipline

Discipline is the training of the mind to obey simple rules and regulations. The practice of making people obey rules and orders is called Discipline. Discipline is defined as a field of study or is training to fix incorrect behavior or create better skills. Discipline is a method of training the mind, body, or behavior, and it makes people do what is expected of them. We are disciplined when we have self control. A disciplined individual does things according to laid down rules and regulations.

It is the attitude of doing the right thing at the right time and at times without being forced or persuaded to do so. 

Attributes of Discipline

1. Self control – Every student should have a good spirit that will help them have self control. Self control is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses. A disciplined student controls himself to obey all the rules and regulations of the school. This enables him or her to excel in academic endeavours. Be respected in the school and society. Discipline makes a good leader.
2. Moderation – The control of your behaviour so that you keep your actions, feelings, habits within reasonable or sensible limit. It  is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes. It is used to ensure normality throughout the medium on which it is being conducted. A moderate person doesn’t overdo things. Many people are excessive in their ways of doing things and are not disciplined. Disciplines helps you to be moderate in the way you do things and also in your behavioural pattern towards people around you. People who are disciplined are not greedy, in any way because moderation is the principle that they can adopt in anything they do
3. Modesty – This is the way that people comport themselves not to show their bodies or do anything that can attract sexual harvest. It  is an attitude of propriety and decency in dress, language, and behavior. If we are modest, we do not draw undue attention to ourselves. In the name of fashion or things in vogue, people have become so immodest in our society today that discipline has been thrown into the sea.
   – A Disciplined person must have self control.
   – A Disciplined person must have respect for legitimate authority.
   – A Disciplined person must exercise moderation in all his dealings.
   – A Disciplined person must be modest, that is not talking much about one’s abilities or possession.
   – A Disciplined must respect the rules and regulations of the state.
   – A Disciplined must be content with what he/she has.

Benefits of Being Disciplined

1. Being focused: Being disciplined helps one stay focused towards his work, activities or goals.
2. Discipline ensures proper and good governance at all levels. 
3. Discipline helps command respect from others.
4. Discipline helps you to stay healthy. Disciplined life includes regular habits like taking food, medicine (if any), having bath, exercise, waking and sleeping at right time.
5. Discipline reduces the level of corruption at all levels.
6. Discipline enhances peace, progress and mutual understanding among the people in the society.
7. Discipline promotes growth and development in the society.
8. A person with self discipline has more self control over himself. He is careful in his use of words while talking, his behavior etc. avoiding himself from being entangled in silly problems.
9. Discipline allows orderliness and smooth running of the society.
10. Being disciplined helps get things done faster and in right time. Though some things happen late due to other factors, still one with discipline gets them done faster than others due to his self discipline like being on time.

Assessment

1. In your own words, how can you explain discipline?
2. What are the benefits of being disciplined

Respect of Rules and Regulations

Civic Education JSS2 First Term

Week 6

Topic: Respect for Rules and Regulations

Respect for Legitimate Authority – Legitimate is the correct measure or ways that things are to be done. It could also be operating according to the law. Legitimate authority is the body established to ensure that laid down rules are followed. Some of such bodies are those in government, immigration, custom, road safety, health inspectors etc A disciplined person must respect legitimate authority.

Respect for Rules and Regulations

Rules are official instruction that say how things must be done or what are allowed. Rules are also the ways of behaving that are accepted as right by most of the people in a given society. Some people do things the way they like and they have no respect for rules and regulations. They do things contrary to the acceptable way. They have no respect for the rules because they feel that they are occupying high positions and this gives them the opportunity to misbehave. Some others do so because they are rich and they believe that money ca take care of everything. Some other people feel that the Government and society at large have cheated them and they haven’t gained anything from the society hence the reason they flout the rules and regulations of the society. Whatever the situation is, everyone must have respect for the rules and regulations of the society. 

Perseverance: The determination to keep trying to achieve something in spite of difficulties is called perseverance.

Examples
– A student who already sat for an examination twice and yet as not gotten the desired result must persevere in spite of all odds to achieve the success.
– A technician who has made effort to repair a fault in an engine has failed many times. He perseveres on by applying other methods he has not applied before to ensure that the desired result is gotten.

Dedication: The hard work or effort that someone puts into a particular activity because they care about it a lot. If a student dedicates his or her time for studies, he or she will become a brilliant student whose colleagues can not push by the side when it comes to academics.

Consequences of Indiscipline

1. Indiscipline increases the rate of crimes in the society.
2. Indiscipline prevents the achievement of the societal goals.Indiscipline may threaten the peace and progress of the society.
3. Indiscipline widens the gap between the rich and poor.
4. Indiscipline breeds high level of poverty in the society.
5. Indiscipline retards growth and development.

Assessment

Give practical examples of perseverance and dedication.

Courage

Civic Education JSS2 First Term

Week 7

Topic: Courage

Introduction

Courage is the ability to be brave when you are in danger, pain, or in difficult situation. It could also be the ability to be brave enough to say or do what you think is right even though other people may not agree or approve. This exercise of boldness in carrying out positive activities in the community where you are is called courage.

Types of Courage

1. Physical courage – The willingness to exercise physical energy to get things done. Fear in most cases may hinder physical things from being accomplished.
2. Moral courage – The ability to choose to do what is right irrespective of pressure to do otherwise. Many people today are not morally okay so they pile pressure on people to go along with them in the wrong way. Some youths today make jest of other youths who dress up well to cover their nakedness. They want everyone to dress in miniskirts, ‘show me your breast’ etc, smoke and drink as they consider them as the order of the day. It takes moral courage for a disciplined person to resist the pressure from these wayward majority. 
3. Spiritual courage – Courage to exhibit ones spiritual faith and live according to religious tenets. Fundamental human rights have given everyone the freedom to choose any religion. Religion is the way people worship God. This is what gives people spiritual courage in whatever they do.There is no religion that points people to the negatives. All the different religions teach are the good moral upbringing which are positives. So your spiritual courage should be exhibited to bring out the positive attributes of your faith as a Christian, Muslim or Traditionalist.

Benefits/Effects of Having Courage

1. Courageous people stand up against things that threaten them or the things or people that they care about.
2. You feel more confident. (It takes more to bring you down than usual)
3. Acting courageously generally makes us feel good, because it involves mastering emotions
4. You’re admired. (People notice when others have courage, and they in return try to model themselves after them)
5. You are more successful. (People are always looking to hire or promote people who show true courage)

Assessment

1. What does courage mean?
2. Give 2 types of courage with explanations

Attributes of Courageous Persons in the Society

Civic Education JSS2 First Term

Week 8

Topic: Attributes of Courageous Persons in the Society

Attributes of a Courageous Person

1. Commitment – When they make promises, they are committed to fulfilling or carrying out their promises. The commitment is a driving force that gives them courage to continue. For example, a person who committed himself to the clearing of the classroom. This commitment gives him or her the courage to clean the classroom whether it is convenient or not.
2. Endurance – It is the ability to suffer difficulties or pain with strength and patience.
3. Determination – The ability to continue trying to achieve what you have decided to do even when this is difficult is called determination. Many people fail to achieve the desired result because of lack of determination.
4. Steadfastness – It is the faithful and loyal way of following a thing, a discipline or religion. When a person is steadfast, he/she follows that discipline or religion without looking back
5. Diligence – A person who works hard.
6. Boldness – To be bold means not to be afraid of taking risk to achieve good things. It could also involve making difficult decision to attain a greater height. The fear of taking such risks make people to remain mediocre today. 
7. Bravery – These are actions, behaviours, attitude that show courage and confidence. Most of the attributes discussed so far may show courage but may not show confidence.

Examples of Courageous People Throughout History

1. Moses After escaping from his slavery in Egypt, led his people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.
2. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) A key figure in the American revolution and foremost author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson sought to challenge existing policies on religious tolerance, education and slavery.
3. Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968) A symbol of the fight against racial discrimination. Martin Luther King passionately supported the civil rights movement, despite virulent opposition and discrimination in parts of America.
4. Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) Nelson Mandela had the courage to fight against the unjust system of apartheid. For his political activities, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but he was released to lead a free South Africa.
5. Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) In 1940, Britain stood, alone against Nazi Germany. Some in Britain wanted to seek a deal with Hitler, but Churchill wanted to fight on, and he inspired Britain through their darkest hour.
6. Rosa Parks (1913-2005) Refused to give up seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama and started a mass protest which led to the end of segregation on public transport.
7. Socrates (469 BC–399 BC) – Greek philosopher. Socrates was willing to die for his beliefs. Arrested for his philosophic teachings, Socrates was willing to accept death rather than change his opinions and beliefs. It is said he calmly accepted his fate.
8. Emmeline Pankhurst – Leading suffragette in the UK. Emmeline Pankhurst went to jail several times for her protests to gain women the vote.
9. Joan of Arc – Peasant girl who went to Dauphin of France to encourage him to fight English occupation. Led French army into battle.
10. Sophie Scholl (1921-1943) German student who took part in the White Rose Resistance group who opposed Hitler and the Nazi Party. She was arrested in 1943 for distributing anti-war leaflets and was executed.

Assessment

• Give two examples of courageous acts you have carried out in time past.
• Mention 4 Courageous persons in Nigeria that you and their acts of courage (From the History of Nigeria, hints – Martyrs)

Governance: Nigeria as a Federation

Civic Education JSS2 First term 

Week 9

Topic: Nigeria as a Federation

Federation is a group of organizations, clubs or people that have joined together to form a single group. Nigeria as a federation is a group of race that came together to form it. Up to 1914, Northern Nigeria was separated from Southern Nigeria. Lord Lugard amalgamated the northern and southern protectorates in 1914.

Need for Federation

1. National Integration – Integration is the combination of two or more things so that they work together. The coming together of a group of people to form Nigeria as a nation has made Nigeria a powerful, strong and reliable nation.
2. Unity in Diversity – A group of people, their culture and tradition may vary from one place to another and yet having the same mind to be together and work together. This one mind to work together will remove whatever is the racial difference and there by create unity in diversity within the nation. 
3. Controlling activities of states – Since federation is the combination of smaller race and people to form a larger one, there is need for controlling body of such small groups

State Government Autonomy

The states have constitutionally defined control over their own affairs. Members of the state government are close to the people. They plan for the people and execute all their plans. The power to execute without being hindered has been vested on them to an extent. As federal government establish schools in each state, the state government also do likewise and controls all that happens in their own schools.

Central Government controls State

The central government has policies in various areas, these policies are what the various state governments follow in what they do.

Constitution of Federal Government

This allows for separation of power.

Exclusive – all that the federal government is to do are stated in the exclusive list

Residual – all that the state government are to do are stated in the residual list

Concurrent list – all that the federal and state governments are to do jointly are stated in the concurrent list

Features of Nigeria Federation

1. There is constitutional division of powers between the levels of government. In Nigeria, the constitutional powers are divided into exclusive, concurrent and residual list. Only the federal government can legislate on the exclusive list which includes defense, police affairs, fiscal and monetary policies. Both the federal and state government could legislate on concurrent list which include education, etc. it is only the state that is competent to legislate on the residual list which contains such items like land, chieftaincy titles, etc.
2. A federal state has a bicameral legislature, i.e. two houses of legislature.
3. The constitution of a federal state is supreme, i.e. sovereignty can only be located in the constitution.
4. The constitution of a federal state is often written and rigid.
5. A federal state is heterogeneous and geographically large.
6. Dual loyalty is entertained in a federal state. For instance, a Nigerian can at the same time be a Lagosian.
7. There is a body charged with fostering good relations among different levels of government.

ASSESSMENT

1. Define Federation?
2. Identify FIVE features of Nigerian Federation?

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Characteristics of a Federation

Civic Education Jss2 First term

Week 10

Topic: Characteristics of a Federation

Characteristics of Federation

For easy administration, the entire nation has been divided into states

1. Sharing of Powers between central and state government. The overall power to control the federation is vested on the president who has to work with the central government. They are members of national assembly, ministers, advisers etc
2. The head of state government is the governors, followed by members of the state house of assembly
3. The federal government have programmes and projects they execute in each state. When the directives are issued, the state government complies with this directive.

Relationship between The Federal, State and Local Governments

The federal, state and local governments are the three arms of government within a country. The country as a large entity is large to administer or rule, so it is divided for easy administration. The federal government controls the whole country. They decide on the area that can become a state. The state is divided into smaller groups which is called the local government. Their operations are inter-related and interdependent ie all three arms of government. As the federal government depends on the state and local government for smooth running of the nation, so also the local and state governments depend on the federal government for national policies and finance to run.

Power to legislate

Nigeria operates a democratic system of government. In each level of government, there is a legislature. The legislature is the body of people nominated and elected to represent a particular area in the local state or federal government. These elected people are found in various house of assemblies.

The State Government

This is the second tier of the federalism system of Government, it is headed by the state governor, and currently Nigeria has 36 states all together. The legislative arm of the state government is called the state house of assembly.

Functions of the state government

1. They are charged with the duty of providing Education for its residents
2. They are to ensure that the roads at their jurisdiction are well maintained and build new roads at where necessary.
3. They implement federal mandate
4. They are charged with the duty of collecting and generating revenue.
5. They operate judicial system.

The Local Government

The local government is the third tier of the federalism Government, it is headed by a “chairman”. It is the government of the grass root where the majority lives.

Functions of the local government

1. The local government provides health centre’s to the people at the grassroots.
2. They are responsible for naming the streets and the roads
3. They help to maintain orderliness
4. They help with the duty of registering death, birth and marriage certificate.
5. Control and regulation of outdoor advertising and hoarding.

PROBLEMS OF THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENTS

1) Revenue allocation formular among the tiers of government.

2) Boundary disputes among the component units.

3) Inter-village or town rivalry. There had been rivalry resulting to clashes between villages or town over boundary and creation of local government.

4) Federal character: Appointment into federal establishments, states and local governments are not usually based on merit but federal character.

ASSESSMENT

1. LIst TWO characteristics oa a federation?
2. What is the Relationship between The Federal, State and Local Government?
3. List FOUR problems of the three tiers of government?