WAEC Government 2005 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 15 October 2026

Ten questions from the 2005 WAEC Government paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 44 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Government 2005 questions and answers

1. 1.One of the functions of a Party Whip in the Legislature is to
   1. A
      ensure members attend sessions and vote according to party lines
      Correct
   2. B
      negotiate treaties with foreign governments
   3. C
      represent the party in the cabinet
   4. D
      introduce bills on behalf of the party leadership
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   The Party Whip is a legislative official responsible for maintaining party discipline. The Whip ensures that members of the party attend legislative sessions, particularly for important votes, and that they cast their votes in line with the official party position. By doing so, the Whip helps the party act as a coherent bloc in the legislature and prevents internal dissension from undermining the party's goals.

2. 2.The French policy of Assimilation implied that
   1. A
      African territories were permanently excluded from any form of political representation
   2. B
      Africans could become French citizens by fully adopting French culture and civilization
      Correct
   3. C
      Africans were governed entirely through their existing traditional institutions
   4. D
      France would grant independence to its colonies after a fixed transitional period
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   The French policy of Assimilation was founded on the belief that Africans could be culturally transformed into French citizens. Under this policy, an African who fully adopted the French language, converted to Christianity, served in the French military, and embraced French customs could qualify for French citizenship. This distinguished it fundamentally from the British policy of indirect rule, which sought to govern Africans through their own institutions rather than absorbing them into European culture.

3. 3.A free and fair election requires all the following except
   1. A
      voter intimidation and election-related violence
      Correct
   2. B
      freedom of expression, association, and assembly
   3. C
      an independent and impartial electoral commission
   4. D
      access to the ballot for all eligible voters
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   Voter intimidation and election-related violence are direct violations of the principles of free and fair elections. For elections to be credible, voters must be able to cast their ballots freely and without fear or coercion. All other conditions—such as an independent electoral body, freedom of expression, and universal access to the ballot—are essential prerequisites that support, rather than undermine, the integrity of the electoral process.

4. 4.An agreed set of rules prescribing the governance of a country can be the
   1. A
      civil code
   2. B
      constitution
      Correct
   3. C
      penal code
   4. D
      statute book
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   A constitution is the supreme and fundamental body of rules and principles that prescribes how a country is to be governed. It defines the structure of government, the distribution of powers among the branches and tiers of government, and the rights and duties of citizens. All other laws derive their validity from, and must conform to, the constitution.

5. 5.Which of the following is associated with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)?
   1. A
      The Treaty of Lagos
      Correct
   2. B
      The Treaty of Rome
   3. C
      The Maastricht Treaty
   4. D
      The Brussels Treaty
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   ECOWAS was established by the Treaty of Lagos, signed on 28 May 1975 by the heads of state of fifteen West African nations. Nigeria's head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, was the principal driving force behind the treaty. The Treaty of Rome (1957) established the European Economic Community, the Maastricht Treaty (1992) created the European Union, and the Brussels Treaty relates to a Western European defence pact — none of these have any connection to ECOWAS.

6. 6.Political opinion can be expressed through
   1. A
      Assassination of political opponents
   2. B
      Armed insurrection
   3. C
      Peaceful demonstrations and protests
      Correct
   4. D
      Military takeover of government
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: C

   In a democratic society, citizens possess the constitutional right to express political opinions through lawful and peaceful means. Peaceful demonstrations and protests are a recognized and protected form of political expression, allowing citizens to communicate dissent or support without resort to violence. Armed insurrection, assassination, and military takeovers are illegal, unconstitutional acts that undermine democratic governance.

7. 7.One of the main objectives of the African Union (AU) is to
   1. A
      Accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of Africa
      Correct
   2. B
      Promote the political dominance of one African regional bloc over others
   3. C
      Establish a military alliance directed against external powers
   4. D
      Restore pre-colonial boundaries across the African continent
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   The African Union, launched in 2002 as the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), has as one of its foundational objectives the acceleration of political and socio-economic integration of the African continent. This encompasses promoting unity and solidarity among African states, coordinating and harmonizing development policies, fostering democratic governance, and working progressively toward greater continental unity — with the long-term aspiration of a unified Africa speaking with one voice on the world stage.

8. 8.An electoral college is a
   1. A
      group of party delegates who choose primary election candidates
   2. B
      training institution for electoral commission officials
   3. C
      committee that supervises and monitors elections
   4. D
      body of selected representatives who formally elect the president
      Correct
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: D

   An electoral college is a body of specially designated electors whose function is to formally elect a head of state. Rather than having citizens vote directly for a president, the electoral college system requires citizens to elect electors, who then cast the actual votes for president. The United States Electoral College is the most widely known example of this arrangement.

9. 9.All the following are features of the civil service except
   1. A
      Partisan political activities
      Correct
   2. B
      Permanence of tenure
   3. C
      Anonymity
   4. D
      Political neutrality
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   The civil service is characterized by anonymity (civil servants work behind the scenes without public recognition), permanence of tenure (they remain in post across changes of government), and political neutrality (they serve whichever party is in power without expressing personal political preferences). Partisan political activities directly contradict the principle of impartiality and are therefore incompatible with civil service membership.

10. 10.A constitution is said to be rigid if it
    1. A
       requires a special and more complex procedure for amendment
       Correct
    2. B
       is written exclusively by the legislature
    3. C
       may be amended by a simple parliamentary majority
    4. D
       cannot be amended under any circumstances
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer: A

    A rigid constitution is one that requires a special, more demanding procedure to amend than the process used to pass ordinary legislation. This may include a supermajority vote in the legislature, approval by a specified proportion of constituent states, or confirmation by a national referendum. The Nigerian and American constitutions are examples. The difficulty of amendment protects fundamental principles from hasty or partisan change.

The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check

Spotted a wrong answer? Tell us from the app or on the contact page and we check it.

Practise all 44 questions we hold from the 2005 paper, on a timed CBT screen

Every question has the answer and an explanation, in the Skolra app.

Download for WindowsDownload for Mac

About the app · Skolra for Windows · Skolra for Mac