JAMB Government Past Questions & Answers - Page 154

In the Second Republic, the total membership of each House of Assembly was determined by the Constitution. Going through the Structure of the 1979 Constitution, one should be able to realize that the Constitution was similar to the American Presidential system of government with separation of powers; The legislature, the Executive, etc .
Coming to the noted that the National Assembly was made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate was was made up of 450 members 449 have been distributed to the states according to the size and the remaining one being reserved for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Qualified members of the parliament were to be Nigerian citizens up to the age of 30 for the Senate and 21 for the House of Representatives.
Unqualified ones were those with another country's citizenship, lunatics, those under death sentence, undischarged bankrupts, convicts, public servants, etc. The State Assembly was a unicameral legislature which was a unicameral legislature which was made up of Representatives. According to the Constitution, qualified candidates must have attained the age of 21.

The six African members of the Nigerian Council were nominated by the governors. The Council was enlarged after the amalgamation so as to cope with the expected increase in problems resulting from increased territory. It was made up of 36 members consisting of the Governor, members of the Executive Council, First Class Residents, Political Secretaries of Northern and Southern provinces as officials. Europeans representing such interests as chambers of Commerce, shipping, banking, mining and six Nigerians nominated by the governor.

A major problem associated with the Nigerian federalism is ethnic conflicts. There has been inter ethnic contact in the various regions but without discrimination and bitter experiences. The issue of neutralization of Lagos in 1953 would have strongly made Chief Obafemi Awolowo to lead the Yorubas to secede from Nigeria but for the threat of war from the Governor and the Colonial office in London. The real secession which was experienced in Nigeria was that of the then Eastern Region in the year 1967. The secession was as a result of the 1966 military coup which was followed by the pogrom that was perpetrated against the Igbos in the North. The East declared the Republic of Biafra and engaged Nigeria in a civil war from 1967-1970. This question of ethnic conflicts has also given rise to other serious issues such has unending demand for creating more states and acceptable revenue allocation formula.

The Inspector General of Police is appointed by the executive on the advice of the Nigerian Police Council According to 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the functions of Nigeria Police Council include:

1. The organization and administration of Nigeria Police Force and all other matters rating to the thereto (not being matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment disciplinary control and dismissal of members of the Force): and

2. The general supervision of the Nigerian Police Force; and

3. advising the President on the appointment of the Inspector General of Police.

A primary objective of the privatization policy in Nigeria is Accountability.