JAMB Government Past Questions & Answers - Page 139

One of the strong points of the multiparty system in Nigeria's Fourth Republic is wider political participation.

Many writers agree that multi-party system ensures wider political participation and education through the various parties' Campaigns and rallies. It also encourages the reflection of various shades of opinions and interests in government.

A major shortcoming of the Ombudsman is lack of executive power to enforce decisions.

One of the limitations of the powers of the Ombudsman is that it has no powers of the enforcement of its investigations and decisions it has taken. It can only investigate and recommend.

The designation of ministers as chief executives and accounting officers was recommended by a commission headed by Dotun Phillips.

The structure of the civil service as contained in that of General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd.) is hereby shown below as recommended by the Dotun Philips Civil Service Review Panel of 1985.

''The Minister/Commissioner was the Chief executive and accounting officer rather than the Permanent Secretary as it had hitherto existed '' The post of the Permanent Secretary was politicised and called Director-General.

Nigeria Council was the first law-making body in Nigeria after amalgamation .

After the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorate in 1914, Lord Lugard established the Nigerian Council. This existed side by side with legislative council of the colony of Lagos. The council consisted of 36 members which was made up of 23 European officials, and 13 non-official members of which 7 of them were Europeans and 6 Nigerians.

The council was merely an ''advisory-talking-drum. Its advice could be taken or dropped at the discretion of the governor who had a veto power.

One of the major weaknesses of the Independence constitution is that it failed to provide the country with full sovereignty.

It retained the British Queen as the constitutional Ceremonial Head of State of Nigeria.