WAEC Government 2023 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 23 October 2026

Ten questions from the 2023 WAEC Government paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 61 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Government 2023 questions and answers

1. 1.

   The exercise of power can arise from any of the following sources except

   1. A
      Traditional or customary authority derived from cultural practices and recognised leadership by ethnic groups
   2. B
      Popular vote by citizens in elections to select who holds office
   3. C
      Constitutional or legal authority granted by the state and exercised through formal government institutions
   4. D
      Economic power derived from wealth, control of resources, and the ability to provide material benefits
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   The exercise of power arises from several recognised sources: Traditional or customary authority, where leaders derive power from cultural heritage and community recognition (e.g. chiefs, elders). Constitutional or legal authority, where power comes from formal government institutions and the rule of law (e.g. president, parliament, courts). Charisma or personal influence, where individuals command followership through force of personality and ideology (e.g. popular leaders, activists, preachers). Coercive power, derived from control of military or police forces that enforce obedience through threat of force. Election or popular mandate, where citizens democratically grant authority to chosen representatives.

2. 2.

   The pattern of rule by the French in her West African colonies was highly

   1. A
      highly liberal and non-interventionist
   2. B
      highly decentralized and left to local chiefs
   3. C
      highly indirect through traditional rulers
   4. D
      highly centralized and controlled from Paris
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   French colonial administration in West Africa followed a policy of assimilation and direct rule, which meant government was highly centralized and controlled directly from Paris through the Governor-General, with little power left to traditional chiefs.

3. 3.

   The judiciary occupies an important place in every state because it is

   1. A
      the institution responsible for enacting and amending the laws of the state
   2. B
      the body that formulates government policies and implements approved annual budgets
   3. C
      the arm of government that interprets and applies the law, thereby protecting the rights of citizens and checking abuse of power
      Correct
   4. D
      the agency that maintains internal security and enforces compliance with court orders
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   Answer: C

   The judiciary is the arm of government that interprets and applies the law, thereby protecting the rights of citizens and checking abuse of power. This is why it occupies an important place in every state: it settles disputes, interprets the constitution, protects citizens' fundamental human rights, and checks the excesses of the executive and legislature, upholding the rule of law.

4. 4.

   Identify four qualities of a good political leader

   1. A
      Honesty, courage, selflessness and accountability
      Correct
   2. B
      Tribalism, favouritism, secrecy and rigidity
   3. C
      Wealth, popularity, family background and eloquence
   4. D
      Aggressiveness, impatience, self-interest and dictatorship
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   Answer: A

   Honesty, courage, selflessness and accountability are widely recognised qualities of a good political leader.

   Wealth, popularity, family background and eloquence may help a person win an election, but they do not by themselves make someone a good leader.

   Tribalism, favouritism, secrecy and rigidity are vices that damage leadership.

5. 5.

   Explain five reasons for which the study of nationalism and nationalist activities is important to the democratic development of a state

   1. A
      It guarantees automatic representation of every ethnic group in the Federal Executive Council
   2. B
      It determines the formula for revenue allocation among the federal, state and local governments
   3. C
      It fixes the boundaries between the three tiers of government as stated in the constitution
   4. D
      It promotes political awareness and active citizen participation, strengthens national unity and integration, and reinforces the legitimacy of the democratic government
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   The study of nationalism and nationalist activities is important to the democratic development of a state because it promotes political awareness and active citizen participation, since citizens who understand nationalist history are more likely to engage in voting, debate and civic duties. It also strengthens national unity and integration by teaching citizens to see themselves as one people despite ethnic, religious or regional differences, which reduces the risk of conflict that threatens democracy. Furthermore, it reinforces the legitimacy of the democratic government, because a government built on the struggles and values of nationalist movements is seen as authentic and worthy of citizens' loyalty and obedience. Beyond these, it teaches citizens to protect their fundamental rights, encourages accountability and good governance, and helps preserve the culture and history that give a nation its identity.

6. 6.

   One of the major criticisms levelled against the United Nations (UN) is its inability to

   1. A
      enforce its decisions on the major powers
      Correct
   2. B
      raise funds for its peacekeeping missions
   3. C
      admit new states into its membership
   4. D
      promote cooperation among member states
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   Answer: A

   A major and recurring criticism of the United Nations is its inability to enforce its decisions on the major powers, especially the five permanent members of the Security Council (USA, Russia, China, Britain, France). These powers hold the veto, so any one of them can block a resolution that goes against their interest, making the UN look powerless whenever a strong nation refuses to comply.

7. 7.

   The Commonwealth of Nations is committed to one of the following principles

   1. A
      Compulsory adoption of a single official religion by all member states
   2. B
      Promotion of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights among member states
      Correct
   3. C
      Military intervention in the internal conflicts of member states
   4. D
      Adoption of a single common currency for trade among member states
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   Answer: B

   The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent states, most of them former British colonies or territories, held together not by treaty obligations but by shared values.

   Therefore, the principle the Commonwealth is actually committed to is the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights among its member states.

8. 8.

   One of the formidable challenges the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is confronted with is the

   1. A
      the absence of a permanent secretariat to coordinate programmes
   2. B
      rivalry among African heads of state over the chairmanship
   3. C
      the refusal of the African Union to recognise NEPAD as a body
   4. D
      lack of adequate and sustainable funding from member states
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development), adopted in 2001, was designed as an Africa-owned development programme to attract investment, promote good governance and accelerate growth on the continent. Government textbooks used for WAEC/JAMB consistently list inadequate and unsustainable funding as one of its most formidable challenges: member states pledged contributions but could not sustain them, forcing NEPAD to rely heavily on foreign donors and partners, which undermined the "African ownership" ideal the programme was built on and slowed the execution of its projects.

9. 9.

   The public Service Commission performs the following functions except

   1. A
      Promotion of civil servants to higher grades
   2. B
      Formulation of government policies
      Correct
   3. C
      Appointment of civil servants into the public service
   4. D
      Discipline and dismissal of erring civil servants
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   Answer: B

   The Public Service Commission is a Nigerian executive body whose job is to manage the personnel matters of the civil service, not to make government policy.

   Its real functions include appointing civil servants, promoting them, and disciplining or dismissing erring officers. These keep the civil service staffed, motivated and orderly.

10. 10.

    Outline five positive political impacts colonial administrations had on West African States leading to statehood

    1. A
       Colonial rule built railways and ports linking the interior to the coast, introduced a single currency for trade, established cash-crop plantations, opened banks for colonial commerce, and created a common external market for the colonies
    2. B
       Colonial rule imposed a divide-and-rule policy that strengthened ethnic unity, abolished all traditional rulers to create equality, banned indigenous languages to enforce one national language, ended slavery within a single day, and gave every West African state full self-government by 1900
    3. C
       Colonial rule amalgamated diverse ethnic groups into single states, introduced Western-style political institutions (legislative councils, courts, rule of law), spread Western education that fostered nationalism, trained indigenous leaders through the colonial civil service, and allowed the growth of political parties that later led independence movements
       Correct
    4. D
       Colonial rule used forced labour to build political discipline, imposed indirect taxation that taught fiscal responsibility, restricted movement between regions to prevent political rivalry, exiled uncooperative chiefs to maintain order, and censored the press to keep political peace
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    Answer: C

    Positive political impacts of colonial administration that led to statehood include:

    1. Amalgamation of many separate ethnic groups, kingdoms and communities into single, unified territorial states (the boundaries of today's West African countries).

    2. Introduction of Western political institutions such as legislative councils, courts and a written rule of law, which became the foundation of modern government.

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

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Practise all 61 questions we hold from the 2023 paper, on a timed CBT screen

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