EUCHARISTIC HEART OF JESUS MODEL COLLEGE, ILORIN.

J.S 1 CIVIC EDUCATION NOTE FOR THIRD TERM

2024/2025 ACADEMIC SESSION

SCHEME OF WORK

1. Electoral malpractice
2. Constitutional development in Nigeria(colonial constitution)
3. Post- colonial constitution
4. Illiteracy/ ignorance
NOTE:
 You are expected to have copied the first two topics before you resume.
Failure to do that will attract serious penalty.
 Please ensure you underline the topics, heading and subheadings.
 Please ensure you leave a space of three lines before you write a new
topic.

TOPIC: ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE

Electoral malpractice is defined as the illegal activities performed during election. It can
also be defined as the act of cheating during election. it is also known as rigging of
election.

FORMS OR EXAMPLES OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE

1. Financial inducement: This is when political candidates or political parties are

giving electorates money to vote for them or their candidates during election. This
prevents electorates to vote for the right candidates.
2. Fake ballot papers: This is when desperate political party or candidate print a fake
ballot paper in order to increase his or her votes during election in order to win since
election is a game of number.
3. Electoral violence: These are various troubles or wickedness some desperate
political parties or political candidates engage themselves against opponent parties
or candidates in order to win election. They could get the service of thugs to scare
people away during election mostly when they have discovered that they may likely
lose vote in that area. Also killing and kidnapping of the opponent political
candidates are also part of it.
4. Stealing of ballot boxes: Some desperate politicians could engage some thugs to
steal away the ballot box(s) in a particular polling booth which they might have
 perceived to lose votes in the place so that the vote of that area would not be
counted.
5. Falsification of electoral figure/result: Some desperate political parties who
want to win election at all cost may look for means to bribe electoral commission to
help them to increase the figures of their candidates above the other opponents so
that their candidates can win.
6. Artificial scarcity of electoral materials: some political parties especially the
party in power may decide to create fake scarcity or reduce supply of electoral
materials to the constituencies or polling booth which they have already perceived
that they may likely lose election. This is done to reduce the number of electorates
that would vote there.
7. Under age voting: This is the use of unqualified citizens or under age (less than 18)
to vote during election to increase their chances of winning by desperate political
parties.
8. Fake manifesto: Some political parties during their campaign before election make
fake and lie promises to the people so that they could canvass or win the mind of the
majority electorates to vote for them during election. This is a wrong act during
election.
9. Stuffing of ballot boxes: During election, some political parties would try to sneak
some ballot papers of no voters into ballot boxes to increase their vote etc.

REASONS FOR OR CAUSES OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE

1. FEAR AND SHAME OF LOSING: Some political parties especially the one in
power will want to do everything possible to retain the power and office. Tgey see
it as something disgraceful to lose during election.
2. LACK OF STIFF PUNISHMENT FOR OFFENDERS: When laws are broken and
the offenders are not brought to face the wrath of the law, it will encourage
others to do the same.
3. CRAVE FOR POWER: Many politicians engage in what is called "do or die"
politics. This is because they want political power at all cost. Such politicians are
such that engage the thugs so as to intimidate the voters.
4. DENIAL OF POLITICAL CANDIDATE TO CAMPAIGN BEFORE ELECTION: Most
political parties in power would always want to dominate all the government
media houses (television, radio etc.) for their campaign thereby giving less
chances of winning to other contesting political parties. Because of this, these
other political parties are also ready to do anything that will increase their
chances of winning, thereby engaging in electoral malpractice.
5. TO FAVOUR SOME GOD FATHERS: Some powerful politicians known as political
godfathers see politics as a means of enriching themselves and also as a
 business. Therefore, they are ready to do anything to win the election for their
candidates because of what they will get from them.
6. PARTISANSHIP: Some citizens or people can do anything possible to make sure
that their political party win during election because of the strong love they have
for their party.
7. CORRUPTION OF SOME ELECTORAL OFFICIALS: Some electoral officials are
so corrupt with the intention of getting rich quickly. Therefore, they are ready to
satisfy any political party who is ready to pay them in order to rig election.
8. FOR ETHNIC REASON: Some citizens always want their ethnic group to be in
power all the time. This mostly happen in a country that has many ethnic groups.
Some people are too tribalistic etc.
CONSEQUENCES/REPERCUSSION OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE
1. It makes people choice of leadership not to count
2. It brings about bad leadership
3. It hamper the development of the country as a result of bad leadership
4. It is a threat to democracy
5. It can make election to be nullified or cancelled when discovered
6. It can lead to conduct of fresh election thereby increasing government
expenditures
7. It can make best political brain to run away from politics due to thuggery and
violence.
8. It makes people not to have confidence in government.
9. It can lead to political instability of the country.
10.It can lead to threat to national security etc.

Solutions to problems of electoral malpractices/ how to prevent it

1. There should be strict punishment to anyone caught in it.

2. The masses should be educated on the dangers of electoral malpractice
3. Credible people should help by participating in politics
4. Electoral malpractice should be included in the school curriculum for the upcoming
generation.
5. There should be a body that would be monitoring the activities of electoral body from
time to time.
6. Through the compulsory use of identity card to prevent multiple voting.
7. Through the appointment of the credible people that will constitute electoral body etc.

Topic: Constitutional Development in Nigeria

Constitution is a set of rules, precept, and regulations by which a society or country is
governed. Constitutional development deals with how we came about our various
constitution in Nigeria. This topic is divided into two. They are:

1. Colonial constitution such as:

a. Nigeria council of 1914 by Sir Lord Lugard
b. National congress of British West Africa(NCBWA) of 1920.
c. Clifford Constitution of 1922.
d. Richard Constitution of 1946.
e. Macpherson Constitution of 1951.
f. Lyttleton Constitution of 1954.
2. Post- Colonial Constitution such as:
a. Independence Constitution of 1960 with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
b. First republican Constitution of 1963 by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
c. Second republican Constitution of 1979 by Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
d. Third republican Constitution by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
e. Fourth republican Constitution of 1999 by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
1. Colonial Constitution such as:
a. Nigerian Council of 1914: This is the first colonial constitution established by
the sir Fredrick Lord Lugard after the amalgamation of Northern and Southern
protectorate in 1914.
Features/characteristics of Colonial Constitution
I. The constitution established the office of the governor-general occupied by Sir Lord
Fredrick Lugard.
II. It also established the offices of two lieutenant governors.
III. It also established executive council in Nigeria.
IV. We have two councils in the northern and southern province.
b. National Congress of British and Cameroon (NCBWA): This was formed in
1920 in a conference held in Ghana (Gold Coast) for British West Africa. The
leader of this congress J.E Casely Hayford from Gold Coast (Ghana). A notable
Nigerian member was Akinwande Savage. The congress aimed at constitutional
reform and other reform.
In 1920, the congress sent a delegation to the secretary of State for the colonies
in London with the following demands. Though their demands were turned down.
The reason was that they said the congress did not represent the people of west
Africa. The congress collapsed in 1930 with the death of its leader. The following
were their demands:
1. It demanded that a legislative council should be established in each British
West African territory.
2. It demanded that fifty percent of members of the legislative council should be
elected Africans.
3. It demanded that the legislative council should exercise veto over taxation i.e
legislative council should control taxation.
4. It demanded that Judiciary should be independent of administrative control.
5. It also demanded that Africans and Europeans in the civil service should be
independent in the administrative control.
6. That the appointment and removal of the traditional rulers should be in the
hand of Africans.
7. It also demanded that university should be established in British West Africa.
8. That a west African Court of Appeal (WACA) should be established to replace
British Privy Council in London.
9. It also demanded provision of health and sanitaries facilities.
10.That a municipal council with about 75 percentage African majority should be
established.
11.That financial institution for member colonies be established.
12.That there should be repatriation of Syrians and Lebanese.
13.That qualified Africans should be appointed as judges and magistrates.
14.That there should be reduction in the domination and monopolization of the
commercial sector by expatriates.
It was this that led to Clifford Constitution of 1922 in Nigeria and other
constitution in Ghana in 1925 and in Sierra Leone in 1926.
Note: NCBWA is not a Nigerian constitution but British West African countries
which Nigeria is part together with Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gambia.
C. Clifford Constitution of 1922:This constitution was designed by Sir Hugh
Clifford who succeeded Lugard as governor special in 1922 in Nigeria.
Features/ characteristics of Clifford Constitution
1. The constitution introduced for the first time the elective principle in Nigeria in
the legislative council. It’s the first of its kind in the British West Africa.
2. It established a legislative council for Nigeria.
3. Northern Nigeria was excluded in the legislative council.
4. It created the office of lieutenant governor each for northern and southern
province.
5. It brought about the formation of the first modern political party in Nigeria that
is Nigerian National Democratic Party(NNDP) of Herbert Macauley in Lagos to
fill three seats allocated for it. One seat was allocated for Calabar area.
6. Qualification for election was based on residence and income.
7. The indirect rule was extended from northern to southern province.
8. Some part of Cameroon became part of Nigeria.
 9. It established newspaper for the country.
10.It promoted nationalism.
Advantages/ merits of Clifford Constitution
1. It introduced elective principle for the first time in Nigeria.
2. It established a legislative council for Nigeria.
3. It created the office of lieutenant governor- general. Each for Southern and Northern
province.
4. It brought about the formation of the first political party.
5. It brought about the establishment of newspaper in the country.
6. It promoted nationalism etc.
Disadvantages/ Demerits of Clifford Constitution
1. The Northern Nigeria was excluded in the legislative council.
2. The qualification for election was based on residence and income.
3. The legislative council was dominated by Europeans.
4. Only the male adult citizens could vote during election.
5. Only one Nigeria was included in the legislative council and was unofficial member.

D. Richard Constitution

This Constitution was developed by Sir Arthur Richard in 1945. It later came into effect
in 1946. It is an improvement on the Clifford constitution of 1922 because it enlarged
representation in the legislative council. It also introduced regionalism which eventually
led to federalism.

Features/ characteristics of Richard constitution

1. The constitution divided Nigeria into three regions such as North, West and East.
2. It also established regional assemblies in the three regions. The northern assemblies
were bicameral. It consisted of house of assembly and house of chiefs, while in the
West and East, it only consisted of one house of assembly each.
3. It established an executive council to assist the governor.
4. The constitution empowered the legislative council to legislate for the entire
country.
5. The constitution incorporated the native authorities in selecting un-official members.
Merits/ Advantages of Richard Constitution
1. It introduced regionalism in Nigeria. That is North, West and East.
2. The North and South were brought together for legislation.
3. It laid the structure for 1954 federal structure.
4. It gave un-official members a majority in the legislative council.
 5. Many Nigerians were represented in the legislative council even though in an
unofficial capacity.
6. It introduced bicameralism with the north having two legislative houses, the house of
assembly and chiefs. However, East and West have one each.
7. Regional assemblies later became the electoral college for electing representatives
into the central legislature.
8. It provided a link between the native administration and the central legislative
council through regional assemblies.
9. Franchise qualification was reduced from 100 pounds to 50 pounds and annual
income from 24 months to 12 months residence.
10.It provided for one Nigerian in the executive council.

Demerits/ Disadvantages of Richard Constitution

1. The executive was still dominated by the Europeans as it were in the Clifford.
2. Elective principle was retained by the Richard to only the people living in Lagos and
Calabar.
3. The country was divided into three unequal regions making the north larger than the
two other combined.
4. The chiefs were nominated and not elected into the legislative council and
represented the interests of those that nominated them.
5. The governor exercised the veto power bill and can decline or accept advice from
members of the executive council.
6. Nigerians were not consulted and involved in the discussing the proposal of the
constitution.

E. Macpherson Constitution: The Macpherson Constitution was developed by Sir John

Macpherson who ruled Nigeria between 1948 and 1955.The constitution was developed in
1950 and came into effect in 1951.

Features/ Characteristics of Macpherson Constitution

1. The central legislative council was renamed the house of representatives.

2. The central executive council was later called council of ministers presided over by
the governor.
3. The regional legislature was empowered to make law on certain subjects and to the
approval of the central council in Lagos.
4. There were regional executives councils consisting of the lieutenant governor, five
officials and nine ministers.
5. There were larger percentage of election of Nigerians into the legislative council.
 6. There were both direct and indirect election.
7. In all the executive council, the decision were by majority vote.
8. The governor could sometimes take decision or act without or against the advice of
the council of ministers if he thought that was the best in the interest of the public.
Merits/ Advantages of Macpherson Constitution
1. Nigerians were consulted at all level in the making of this constitution.
2. The constitution granted more powers to the regional houses of assembly to make
law and advice on most matters concerning the people.
3. The legislative houses consisted mainly of elected Nigerians and were no longer
dominated by nominees and ex-official members.
4. It promoted and spread democracy by giving Nigerians all over the country the
opportunity to elect their members to the legislative houses.
5. For the first time, Nigerians were appointed ministers at the central and regional
government.
6. It allowed bicameral legislature in the North and West region.
7. It stated a system of revenue sharing between the central and regional governments
in Nigeria.
8. It further the process of federalism by dividing power between the central and
regional governments and allowing the regions more autonomy.
Demerits/ Disadvantages of Macpherson Constitution
1. It still concentrated too much power in the central legislature.
2. The central government also have too much powerto act without or against the
advice of the executive council.
3. The minister did not have overall responsibilities of their ministries.
4. The constitution allowed ministers to be elected by regional legislature which is
against the principles of universal suffrage.
5. The regional division worsened the problems of ethnicity and mutual distrust in
Nigeria politics.
6. Mass participation was hindered in the North because only male tax payers were
allowed to vote.
7. British still controlling the executive power, it failed to transfer power to Nigerians or
allowed them to participate adequately in governance.

F. Littleton Constitution

This constitution came after the shortcomings of Macpherson Constitution. It came into
effect in 1954.

Features/ Characteristics of Littleton Constitution

1. It established federal system for the country.
2. For the first time, member of the federal and regional houses were directly elected.
3. The office of lieutenant governor in the three regions were replaced with that of the
governor. The governor in Nigeria was redesignated as governor-general.
4. The constitution created the office of the premier to be appointed by the regional
governors as the head of the regional government.
5. It created the federal capital of Lagos and the legislators from the regional houses
could no more serve in the federal house of legislatives as before.
6. The constitution decentralized the civil service.
7. It also decentralized the judicial system and put it in the regional hands.
8. The constitution established the principle of derivation for revenue sharing.
9. It accorded ministers executive control of government departments now called
ministries at both the federal and regional levels.
10.Lagos was neutralized and separated from the western region to become the federal
capital territory.

2. Post-colonial constitutions
a. Independence constitution of 1960
This constitution was made after the Nigeria independence. The following are its
features.
Features/ characteristics of independence constitution
1. The constitution established parliamentary system of government.
2. The prime minister became head of government.
3. The constitution was a federal constitution with two lists. That is exclusive and
concurrent list.
4. Fundamental human rights of the citizens were entrenched in the constitution.
5. There was provision for how to become citizens of Nigeria.
6. The constitution established the judicial service commission to appoint judges
of high court and supreme court.
7. The constitution gave power of judicial review to the federal supreme court.
8. The legislature at the federal and regional level were bicameral.
9. There is provision for constitutional amendment.
10.The federal government was granted power over emergency situations in the
constitution.
b. The 1963 republican constitution( first republican constitution)
This constitution came into effect in October 1, 1963. This followed the agitation
of the people.
Features of 1963 republican constitution
1. It retained the parliamentary system of government and the head of
government became prime minister.
2. It retained federalism as a system of government.
3. It changed the office of governor-general to the president as the head of state
and commander in chief of armed forces
4. The president have to be elected and serve for a period of five years.
5. The president appoint judges on the advice of the prime minister.
6. The supreme court was the highest court of appeal.
7. There was principle of collective responsibility in the constitution. That is only
the parliament can remove the prime minister through a vote of no
confidence.
8. There was creation of mid- west region from the western region.
9. It provided for the establishment of Federal Police Service Commission
c. 1979 constitution( second republican constitution)
This was the first constitution that ushered in the first civilian president of
Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Features/ characteristics of 1979 constitution

1. The constitution changed from parliamentary to American style of presidential
system. The head of state was also the head of government.
2. It created the office of the vice- president who must be nominated by the
president from the same party.
3. The president have the final say over all the executive issues.
4. The constitution provided for the vice- president to succeed the president in
the case of death or through impeachment by the national assembly.
5. It provided for the principle of separation of power.
6. It also provided room for check and balances.
7. There was also provision for independence of Judiciary.
8. It also provided for bicameral legislature at the federal and unicameral for the
state ( one house of assembly).
9. Fundamental human rights of citizens were adequately spelt out in the
constitution.
10.It listed the local government and its functions were clearly spelt out.
11.The amendment procedure were also included with the constitution rigid.
 12.The constitution declared coup d’etatas unconstitutional and punishment for it
etc.
d. 1989 constitution ( third republican constitution)
1. It gave more autonomy to the local governments.
2. It allowed only two party system unlike 1979 constitution which allowed for
multi-party system.
3. Members representing each state were reduced from 5 to 3 etc.
e. 1999 constitution ( fourth republican constitution)
This constitution came into effect on may 29, 1999.
Features of 1999 constitution
1. The constitution allowed for dual citizenship. That is Nigerian can be citizens of other
countries.
2. Environmental provision clause were introduced.
3. It provided for 109 senators and 360 members of house of representatives.
4. There was provision for multi- party system.
5. It spelt out the school certificate and age as the minimum for elective post.
6. It also spelt out revenue allocation formula.
Supremacy of the constitution
This means that, the law of the land takes pre-eminence over and above all issues.
Reasons why constitution is supreme
1. Because it protects the rights of the citizens.
2. To prevent oppression of no citizens.
3. To ensure that every citizen is equal before the law.
4. To prevent abuse of power from any arm of government.
5. To promote peaceful co-existence in the country.
6. To bring about national development etc.

Topic: Illiteracy/Ignorance
This is defined as inability of a person to read and write. While ignorance means lack of
knowledge about a particular thing. As people used to say that if you think education is
expensive, try ignorance and illiteracy. When people are not enlightened and not given
education, they would become illiterate. This is one of the things that destroyed our
society.

Causes of Illiteracy

1. Tradition and values: Some tradition especially in Africa does not see the importance
of sending female children to school but the male children. They see it as waste of
resources and time for them since they will end being house wives.
2. Poverty: Some people know the importance of sending their children( both male and
female) to school but they just cannot afford it. Some of them are still struggling for
what they will eat before talking of sending them to school.
3. Wrong policies and priorities: Sometimes, government make some policies on
education which look unattractive and waste of time. Government can also make a
policy of compulsory elementary education financed by the government.
4. Wrong attitude to education: Some parents still that their children do not need too
much education but prefer them to do business where they can get quick money.
5. Poor and inadequate educational facilities: Some schools do not have facilities that
can aid learning. Some public schools do not library, laboratory and other provisions
for conducive learning.
Consequences/ repercussion of illiteracy
1. It bring bad image to the country.
2. It can slow down the rate of country’s development.
3. It makes one to be ignorant.
4. Sometimes, it can give one a sense of inferiority complex.
5. The people or person is prone to ethnic manipulations and cheating.
6. It can affect exposure and knowledge to operate modern technology.
7. It can lead to abuse of the people’s rights.
8. It can deny one opportunity to meet and mingle with educated and exposed people.
9. It can make one not to have opportunity of getting white collar jobs even when we
come across them.
10.There are positions in the state that when one is illiterate, the person cannot get
there, even though the person is rich how will address the people especially in a
country like Nigeria. Some of the positions are president, governor etc.
Solutions to the problems of illiteracy
1. Government should create a policy that will encourage people to go to school.
2. Government should make sure enough learning facilities are provided to school in
other to aid learning.
3. There should be citizenship education in other to learn about the importance of
literacy.
4. There should be legislation from government for compulsory education from a
certain age to another certain age.
5. Government should try to improve economic standard of the people so that they
would be able to send their children to school.
6. There should be public enlightenment to sensitize the people about the importance
of education.
7. Illiteracy can be included in a subject like civic education where children would be
taught the importance of education and by so doing they can pass it to other
generations. And also know that illiteracy is a bad thing when they become future
leaders.