SS3 CIVIC EDUCATION

FIRST TERM SCHEME OF WORK

WKS REVISION

1. Human Right – meaning characteristics and categories of human right .

2. Public service- meaning and structure of public service
3. Reason of the short- coming of public service
4. How to improve public service in Nigeria.
5. Civil society- meaning and functions of civil society.
6. Principles of civil society, qualities, characteristics of civil society.
7. Human trafficking- meaning, causes of human trafficking.
8. Consequences of human trafficking social, physical and Psychological
consequences.
9. Government and individual efforts to stop human trafficking
10. Revision
11. Examination

SS3 CIVIC EDUCATION

2nd TERM SCHEME OF WORK
WKS REVISION

1. Democracy- meaning and importance of democracy.

2. Problems and processes of democracy.
3. Constitution and democracy- meaning & features of constitutional democracy
4. Advantage and disadvantages of constitutional democracy.
5. Rule of law- meaning, features, basic, and principle of rule of laws.
6. Importance and problems of rule of laws.
7. Political apathy- meaning and causes of political apathy.
8. The effects of political apathy ways of fighting political apathy
9. Revision
10. Examination

SS3 CIVIC EDUCATION

FIRST TERM SCHEME OF WORK
HUMMAN RIGHTS
MEANING: Human rights are basic right and privileges of citizens in a country as
enshrined in the constitution. They are rights and freedoms in which every human
being is entitled to irrespective of colour, language race, age, sex or geographical
location. These rights and privileges were declared in 1789 fundamental human
rights.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1. UNIVERSITALITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS: implies that rights are conferred on

individual universally. Fundamental human rights go along with the progress of
human society.
2. INALIENABILTY OF HUMAN RIGHTS: ordinarily rights are deemed to be inherited
in or natural to individual. This approach to rights implies that individuals derive their
right from God and not the laws.
3. INDIVISIBLE: An individual has fundamental human right to life, privacy, freedom
of expression assembly, movement, freedom of thought and conscience.
4. RELATIVITY: The relativity of human rights is a function of relationship, between
rights and responsibility, human rights and laws. Therefore, the enjoyment of rights
ultimately depends upon law for the state must provide facilities before the rights
can be enjoyed by the citizens.

CARTEGORIES OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1. POLITICAL RIGHTS: one types of right is political right of the citizen to participate
in the political process, the right to vote and be voted for the right to criticize the
government constructively and to express an opinion on all political issues without
victimization and molestation from political leaders.

2. ECONOMIC RIGHTS: A citizen also enjoys economic rights such as the right to be
employed and to work to earn an income and most importantly the right to own
property.

3. SOCIAL RIGHTS: Every citizen is also entitled to social rights which include access
to social amenities provided by the state. These include schools, roads, hospitals,
pipe borne water, etc.

4. LEGAL RIGHTS: These rights include fair hearing in court if he or she commits an
offence and the right to legal representation in court. It also include the right to sue
and be sued in a competent court of law.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS: A citizen of any country is entitled to environmental

rights and such rights must be tampered with by individual or government.

OBJETCIVES
1. ___________ refers to the basic rights and freedoms which all human beings are
entitled to (a) Human Rights (b) Human Behaviour (c) Human Immune System (d)
Human wrong
2. One of the following is not a right (a) Right to life (b) Right to steal (c) Right to
education (d) Right to freedom of speech.

WEEK 3
PUBLIC SERVICE

MEANING: Public Service is a system provided by the government to the citizen

either directly or indirectly or by financing private provision of service. It entails
certain services being available to all, regardless of class or income.

Public service is the administrative arm of the executive organ of government. It

comprises several departments/ministries of the government and it recruits
permanent staff of various categories to provide various services to the general
public.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC SERVICE

1. PERMANENCE: The public service is a permanent organization in the sense that

while government come and go it remains permanently in place to render the same
services irrespective of the government in power.

2. ANONYMITY AND NEUTRALITY: Public service is anonymous in the sense that

while the politicians are known to the public, the public servant’s identity is unknown.
He works under the control and supervision of the political head who bears the blame for the
lapses in the service. A public servant is also neutral or non partisan, because he is
ready to work with any government irrespective of his party affiliation.
3. IMPARTIALITY: This emphasis that civil servants are expected to be impartial. That
is, they are not to allow their political interest to influence their performance in the
ministry, they must be ready to serve all the political parties in power equally.
4. BUREAUCRACY/ RED-TAPISM: This principle emphasis strict adherence to the
rules and regulations that govern the civil service. Which are found in a book called
the” General Order”. It also means keeping to the formalities. It brings about
unnecessary delays.
5. EXPERTISE: This is a principle that states that civil servants must be experts in
their various field of work. That is, they must have a sound knowledge of their work.
6. NEUTRALITY/ NON-PARTISAN: This emphasis that civil servants must not be
involved in partisan politics. That is, civil servants cannot contest for a political post
while still in service. Thus, any civil servant that is in interested to contest for a
political post must first resign his/ her appointment. Neutrality emphasises that civil
servants must not be a card carrying member or registered member of a political
party.
7. MERITOCRACY: This principle emphasis that employment and promotion of civil
servants must be based on merit. That is, the qualification for any individual to be
promoted must be on merit.

STRUCTURED OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE

The public service is arranged hierarchically. It is organized into ministries and

departments. At the top of the ministry is a minister or political head.
1. Administrative Class: This is the highest class of the cadre in the civil service or the
highest in the hierarchy of the public service. This class is made up of the permanent
secretary or director general, and qualification to this class is based on university
degree or equivalent qualification. The primary function of this class is to formulate
policies.
2. The Professional Class: Next to the administrative class is the professional class of
Engineers, doctors, architects etc. who advise the government on technical matters
like road construction.
3. The Executive Class: The executive class is responsible for implementation of the
decision of the government. It is made up of senior executive, deputy senior
executive, assistant senior executive. And qualification into this class is GCE level,
professional diploma or equivalent qualification.
4. Clerical class or Stenographers and Typist: This is the class of the civil service that
has the highest number of workers and this class is made up of receptionist, clerk,
secretaries, Typist,etc. This class assist other classes in the performance of their
duties.

5. The Manipulative Class or the Manual Labour Force: This is the lowest class of the
public service and the workers in this class perform manual labour. This includes
messengers, cleaners etc. the hierarchical arrangement’ of public service ensures
effective control within the service.

WEEK 4
REASONS FOR THE SHORT-COMING OF PUBLIC SERVICE

1. Colonial Influence: One of the reasons for the short-comings in the public service
is colonial influence. What the colonial master(s) left behind as a public service was a
lopsided organization with defected structure.
2. CORRUPTION, MISMANAGEMENT AND ETHNICITY: In most cases,
appointments are made on the basis of ethnicity and poor administration within the
service. Various forms of mismanagement, bribery and corruption have also been
reported within the service.

3. POOR REMUNERATION: The morale of public servants is low. This is due to lack
of incentives, low level of salaries and poor conditions of service which leads to lack
of job satisfaction and low output.

4. INCONSISTENCY OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND EXCESSIVE

BUREAUCRACY: The service has been accused of excessive bureaucracy or red
tapism. This is because public servant often follows laid down rules and procedures
or general orders rather. Slavishly, often sacrificing his initiative.

5. POLITICAL INTERFERENCE: Some politicians try to influence appointments within

the service. This results in politically appointed public servants being placed above
career and better qualified civil servants. This also affect morale, and discipline within
the service.

6. NEGATIVE ATTITUDE OF PUBLIC SERVANT: many public servants regard their

job as government work which should be a “dragged along and not carried along”
lateness, absenteeism and malingering, particularly among the junior staff are rampant within
the service.

OTHERS ARE
6. Lack of accountability
7. Public Servants are out of touch with the people
8. Lack of qualified personnel.

WEEK 5
HOW TO/WAYS OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SERVICE IN NIGERIA

Public service in Nigeria or in other countries is responsible for the implementation

of government policies. They also monitor and evaluate government policies with a
view to ascertaining whether there is any need to modify or vary the manner of
implementation to ensure efficiency. Public service is the life-wire of the nation.
Ways of improving the public service in Nigeria are as follows:
1. REFRESHER COURSES AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES: The
Workers should be sent on refresher courses and training programmes both within
and outside the country.

2. TEACHING OF POLITICAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS: The public servants should

be exposed to training that will broaden their political horizon. Political education
should be taught in schools to lay a solid foundation for people who would
eventually become political office holders.

3. THE USE OF CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU AND PUBLIC

COMPLAINT COMMISSION: these commissions should be used effectively to
correct and punish erring public office holders.
4. WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES: the government should organize
workshops, seminars and conferences for the public servants. These will go a long
way to improve their service delivery abilities.
5. USE OF PERSONAL INITIATIVE: the government should stop excessive
bureaucracy. The public servants should be allowed to exercise their own initiatives
in execution of their jobs.
6 IMPROVE WELFARE PARKAGES: one pf the ways to improve the public service in
Nigeria is that there should be improved welfare packages, these includes among
other things salaries and fringe benefits and other incentives.
OTHERS ARE:
7. The Employment of qualified personal etc.

WEEK 6
CIVIL SOCIETY
MEANING: Civil Societies are non-governmental organization formed to pursue
specific issues like the fundamental human rights of citizens and social justice. The
civil society is composed of many voluntary organizations that come together and
formed basic of a functioning society. Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Legal Aid
Council (LAC) and campaign for democracy are good examples of civil society group
which serve as the voice of the people. They ensure that the citizens ’ rights are not
violated but fully protected.

FUNCTIONS AND NEED FOR CIVIL SOCIETY: They are -:

1. They influence government decision and policies
2. They help to fight for or pursue specific issues like fundamental human rights,
social justice etc.
3. They are service providers to the less privileged
4. They help individuals to fight for their rights.
5. Civil society also serves as checks and balances which allow for a system based
regulations that allow one branch to limit another
6. They help to promote democracy by seeing to it that government agencies and
officials adhere strictly to the principles of democracy in their policies and actions.
7. They facilitate development by ensuring both good leadership and fellowship.
8. They serve as watchdogs of the government by checking their excesses and also
to promote respect for the constitution.

WEEK 7
THE PRINCIPLES OF CIVIL SOCIETY

QUALITIES AND PROBLEMS OF CIVIL SOCIETY:

1. INTERFERENCE WITH POLITICAL SYSTEM: A particular civil society group may
claim to represent public opinion but in a close scrutiny, it may be found to represent
the views of small vociferous minority
2. COULD UNDERMINE STATE ADMINISTRATION: The activities of civil society
group may undermine the smooth administration of the state as well as retard the
development programme of government.
3. ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONSHIP WITH POLITICAL PARTIES: Civil Society
groups may establish ties with political parties and the state but they must retain
their independence.
4. FREEDOM OF CHOICE: Civil Society is based strictly on individual’s freedom of
choice, no force or sanction is used
5. PROBLEM OF IDENTIFICATION: Sometimes, it is difficult to clearly identify
certain civil society groups, as such their intentions may be misconstrued. For
example, it happened in Nigeria in January 2012, during the fuel subsidy removal
demonstration. Some of the civil society groups that participated in the
demonstration could not easily be identified.
VOLUNTARY GROUPS: Civil society groups are made up of professionals, lay men,
artisans etc, who have voluntarily and willingly come together to pursue a course
they believe in.
OTHERS ARE:

1. spontaneous reaction
2. sharing social rights
3. Non- profit making

WEEK 8
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
MEANING: Human trafficking is an illegal trade of human being for the purpose of
commercial sexual exploitation forced Labour etc. the major victims of trafficking are
women and children. When women are the person being brought and sold, it is called
women trafficking. When it is children, it is called child trafficking. Victims of this
illegal trade are subjected to forced Labour, commercial sexual exploitation etc.
CAUSES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

1. POVERTY: This is a situation of being poor. This situation or experience has led
many people to fall victims of human trafficking. The trafficker promise them money
and jobs upon arrival at their destinations, the victims are held against their will and
are forced to work or provide services to the traffickers. These services range from
forced Labour to commercialized sexual exploitation etc.
2. UNEMPLOYMENT: Due to the high rate of unemployment in the country, people
would do anything to find greener pastures in other countries especially Europe and
America
3. GREED: This is a situation in which a person has a strong desire for more money,
food, possessions, etc, than he or she needs.
4. LOWSELF ESTEEM: Self esteem means self respect. It is a feeling of being
satisfied with one’s abilities. When one does not believe in himself or herself of does not
respect his or her own abilities, such an individual with low esteem can easily be lured away
by sweet and vain promises of traffickers
5. CORRUPTION: This is a dishonest, illegal or immoral behaviors especially with
someone with power or position of authority.

WEEK 9
CONSEQUENCES/EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING:

1. So many victims of human trafficking suffer rejection even by their immediate

family members and this makes it extremely difficult for them to make a reasonable
living out of life.
2. Those children taken away are deprived the opportunity of going to school. This
affects their lives adversely as they will remain stag illiterates.
3. Human trafficking results in violation of fundamental Human rights of the victims.
This is because they are deprived from the freedom of movement, freedom of
association, human dignity etc.
4. Most times they find it difficult to be reintegrated into the community because of
social exclusion and stigmatization.

5. PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Most of the victims of human trafficking are usually battered, I injured and are usually
given serious marks etc.
6. PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES

Victims of human trafficking are usually emotionally and psychologically traumatized.

WEEK 10
GOVERNMENT AND INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS TO STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING: The
federal Government of Nigeria, the state governments and individuals have all made
concerted efforts to stop human trafficking. Some of the steps taken to stop human
trafficking include:
1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (NAPTIP) The establishment of NAPTIP is one of the
steps the government took to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
2. ENACTMENT OF LAWS: In a bid to stopping trafficking in human beings the
federal government of Nigeria passed the traffic in persons prohibitions and
administration act in July 2003 while the Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Godwill
Akpabro also signed into law the child Rights bill on 5th December, 2008. These
legislation prescribe stiff measures for offenders so as to discourages people from
trafficking in human being
3. THE EFFORTS OF NGOs: One of the non-governmental Organizations that has
played very active role to stop human trafficking is WOTCLEF. This Organisation was
founded by Mrs. Titi Atiku, the wife of the former vice president
4. UNITED NATION INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN EMERGENCY FUND (UNICEF)
has played a pivotal role in trying to stop human trafficking, child abuse, violence
against women as well as children as well as exploitation of children. Throughout the
country, UNICEF has been working with Governments at all levels with a view of
establishing a kind of partnership to fight this menace. For example the organisation
has established youth resource centre in Edo and Delta states between 2004 and
2008 respectively.
THE EFFORTS OF INDIVIDUAL
1. To report any violation of human to the police
2. People should not involve in human trafficking etc

WEEK 11
REVISION
WEEK 12
EXAMINATION
SS3 CIVIC EDUCATION
2ND TERM WORK

WEEK 1
DEMOCRACY
MEANING: Democracy is a system of government in which all the citizens of a nation
take part in government by voting to elect their representatives. Democracy was
defined by Abraham Lincon (Former American President) as “the government of the
people by the people and for the people”. The word “democracy ” is derived from Greek
words- “demo” which means people and “Kratia” meaning governance. The analyses of
this is that it simple shows people’s governance.

IMPORTANT OF DEMOCRACY

1. Democracy guarantees popular participation in political activities and decision

making process of the country. Participation in the political process takes the form of
taking part in elections on basis of universal adult suffrage
2. Individuals have an equal chance and eligibility to hold office provided the basic
requirements are fully met.
3. The provision of fundamental human rights are guaranteed example freedom of
speech, freedom of association, freedom to practice religion of ones choice, freedom
of assembly etc.
4. It ensures stability in government
5. there is always existence of a political opposition in parliament to criticize
government policies. This ensures accountability from the government in power.
6. Competitive elections are an important feature of modern democracy. The
elections are held regularly and at periodic intervals in an interval in an atmosphere
devoid of violence and other irregularities.
7. Democracy teaches tolerance compromise, equality and fairplay. The decisions of
the majority is usually respected while the views of the minority are also considered
8. Democracy guarantees good government
9. It guarantees intelligent understanding of public affairs.
10.Various institutions and mechanism exist to support the democratic system and to
safe guard the rights and liberty of the individual.

WEEK 2
PROCESSES OF DEMOCRACY
Process of democracy is the methods and procedures that collectively make
democracy make an acceptable modern system of government. The process of
democracy are as follows:
1. FORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTY: The first step in democratic processes is the
formation of political parties
2. REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES: The next step in democratic processes is
the registration of political parties.
3. REGISTRATION OF THE ELECTORATE: registration of voters generally referred to
as electorate is the third step in the democratic processes.
4. ELECTORAL EDUCATION: Electoral conditions or requirements and other
activities must be made known to the electorate to create awareness and direction
on political programmes of a country.
5. ELECTORAL BODY: Electoral system prescribe the formation of an electoral body.
This body must be independent and unbiased of other major organs of government
6. ELECTORAL NOMINATION: This is done on party basis. Set of aspirants vying for
public offices are selected or nominated and registered by the electoral commission
before the final conduct of election.

OTHERS ARE

7. Periodic conduct of elections

8. compilation of voters register
9. Existence of independent Judiciary
10. Security of candidates
11. Delimitation of constituencies
12. Equal access to the media
13. Declaration of results.

PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRACY
1. Lack of proper political education and awareness among the electorate is major
problem of democracy
2. Democracy involves slow decision making process in government.
3. the high rate of illiteracy and low level of education in the country do not make it
possible for the citizens to appreciate the complex nature of modern democracy
4. The incidence of coup de’tat in Africa is also a major problem of democracy. These
upheavals most times terminate the tenure of popularly elected governments and in their
place the coup makers set up military justice which rule by decrees which cannot be
challenged.
5. It create the problem of representation as no one can represent the other in
relation to sharing of wealth.
6. Western democracy has not worked successfully in Africa because the system is
alien to African political traditions.
7. One of the major problems of democracy is interference in the affairs of electoral
officers by the political office holders
8. Another problem of democracy is seen as a colonial linkage and a mark of neo-
colonialism which intended to sustain Western domination of Africa.
9. Democracy has witnessed a lot electoral Fraud, such as manipulations, rigging and
use of thugs to intimidate political opponents.
10. many African leaders have a strong desire to perpetuate and entrench
themselves in power for an indefinite period
11. One of the problems of democracy is tribalism, nepotism and unnecessary
sentiments. Elections are not based on merit, rather on sentiments, ethnicity,
religions etc.

WEEK 3
CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
MEANING: A constitutional democracy may be defined as a system of government
that is composed of people elected periodically by the people themselves to
represent them at various levels of government for a certain period of time.
FEATURES/ CHARACTERISTICS OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
1. Existence of the rule of law
2. There is multi-party system in place to facilitate competition
3. Majority rule is one of the features of constitutional democracy.
4. The rights of the individual are respected and people participate in the political
process.
5. Opportunity exists for effecting a change of government.
6. The individual’s right to vote and be voted for is respected while the views of the minority
are considered.
7. There is existence of separation of power.
8. It creates room for popular participation.
9. There is also popular sovereignty.

WEEK4
MERITS/ ADVANTAGES OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
1. It guarantees fundamental human rights.
2. It brings about stability in government.
3. It fosters legimately.
4. It guarantees popular participation.
5. It allows freedom of choice of leaders by the electorates.
6. It guarantees good governance.
7. It guarantees equal opportunity for all and sundry.
8. There is existence of opposition.
DEMERITS/ DISADVANTAGES OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
1. It is very expensive to operate.
2. It promotes quantityity instead of quality.
3. The decision making process is very slow and cumbersome.
4. It creates masseur interest in government to the detriment of other areas of
importance.

WEEK5
THE RULES OF LAW
MEANING: The rule of laws means the law is pre-eminent and
Superior to the rule of any human leader. It presupposes that the law is above any
individual in the system and should be obeyed by all. The rule of law means
superiority over every individual. This theory or concept was propounded by Prof.
A.V. Dicay, a British professor.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OR MAIN FEATURES OF THE RULE OF LAW
FEATURES OF THE RULE OF LAW
1. PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW: The principle of equality before the
laws states that all citizens are equal before the law, it states that all citizens are
equal in the eyes of the laws and that no person or group of persons, no matter the
status is above the lawof the land. This implies that the existing laws should be
applied equally to all persons irrespective of status.
2. THE SUPREMENCY OF THE LAW: This aspect explains that nobody should be
punished or subjected to any degrading or crime treatment or punishment except for
a breach of laws proven in an ordinary court. A person is presumed innocent and
subjected to fair and public trial with out undue delay until pronounced guilty by the
ordinary court devoid of secret trials.
3. THE PRINCIPLE OF IMPARTIALITY: This implies impersonal or formal approach to
legal cases that is prescribed to avoid injustice. An accused, no matter the
circumstances must be presumed innocent until he or she is tried in a competent law
court and judged guilty of an offence.
THE PRINCIPLE OF LIBERTY: The rule of law features the principle of
Liberty which implies that liberty is inherent in the individual and that
The law is not the source of liberty but is the result of the individuals
Behaviour and action. These rights include;
(I)Right to life
(II). Right to work.
(III). Right to freedom of expression.
(IV). Right to vote and be voted for.
(V). Right to freedom of association.
(VI). Right to education. Etc
4. CERTAINTY OF LAW: This implies legality which ensures that no person is
punished unless he breaks the law. It also implies that existing laws are formerly
passed by the elected legislative body of the people.

WEEK 6
THE IMPORTANCE OF RULE OF LAW:
1. Makes everyone equal in a political system.
2. It brings about obedience to the law of the land.
3. It guarantees supremacy of laws over citizens
4. It guarantees peace and order in the society.
5. It enhanced the protection of citizen’s right in the state.
6. It ensures freedom of press and association.
7. It prevents tyrannical rule.
8. It guards against illegal or unlawful detention.
9. It guarantees in inalienable rights of the citizens.
PROBLEMS/ LIMITATIONS OF RULE OF LAW
1. THE ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT: The government may undermine the rule of
law by refusing to respect judicial decisions besides, countries under one party or
military do not respect the rule of law as the rule arbitrarily.
2. CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS: Certain customs and traditions of a country may
limit the realization of the rule of law.
3. RATE OF ILLETRACY: The high ill iletracy rate among people, especially in Africa,
makes it difficult for them to know about their rights and about the steps to take
when their rights are violated.
4. ABSENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACIITIES: Many countries do not provide the
basic economic facilities to enable the individual to enjoy the social order.
5. DELEGATED LEGISLATION: The practice of delegated legislation may give rise to
a body of laws, rules and regulations which the individual may know no about or
which may encroach upon the individual’s rights and liberties.
6. DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY: Diplomats generally enjoy immunity from prosecution
in their country of accreditation. This is an inter national practice and it is an affront
to the rule of law as it places diplomats some what above the law.
7. POLICE BRUTALTY: The brutal or unlawful harassment of the citizens by the law
enforcement agents contrives the principles of the rule of laws.
8. The declaration of a state of emergency.
9. Financial influence.
10. Existence of special tribunal.
11. Presidential immunity.

WEEK 7
POLITICAL APATHY
MEANING: Apathy simply means a feeling of not having any interest in or
enthusiasm about anything it also means the feeling of not willing having no interest
and enthusiasm about politics. It is the indifference on the part of the citizens of any
country as regards their attitude towards political activities for example, campaigns,
political rallies, elections, public opinions, civic responsibilities etc.
CAUSES OF POLITICAL APATHY
There are so many factors that can cause the indifference of the citizens to the
democratic processes. These are –
1. BAD GOVERNANCE: The inability of the political leaders to provide amenities and
other measures to improve the welfare of the people is another reason for political
apathy.
2. UNFULFILLED POLITICAL PROMISES: promises people become not to be
interested to the system because of the way politicians cajole them to vote for them
with juicy promises which they never fulfill.
3. POLITICIAN VIOLENCE: The attitude of some politicians who see politics as a do
or die affair which always result to violence, assassination actions and assault on their
political opponents always discourage citizens from participating in politics. This
makes people believe that it is a dirty game meant for people who have no integrity
to protect.
4. ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE: Various electoral malpractices which include multiple
voting, rigging, declaration of wrong candidate as winner and the inability of the
government to punish electoral offenders who disrupt election are all reasons that
discourage the people from participation in politics.
5. PARTY IDEOLOGIES: People become apolitical when they observe that the
political parties existing or ruling at a particular time do not have any strong ideology.
People of integrity and politically cultured will only identify with a system based on
strong ideology which will have programmes for the welfare of the people.

WEEK 8
THE EFFECTS OF POLITICAL APATHY: THESE ARE
1. LACK OF TRUST IN THE SYSTEM: One of the major effect of political apathy is
the effect that people or the electorates tends to loose hope or show lack of trust in
the system.
2. DISTRUST: Another effect of political apathy is that it breed distrust on both the
leader and the led.
3. DISCOURAGE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: It also discourages political
participation of the citizens.
4. IT ENCOURAGES MISUNDERSTANDING: Political apathy encourages
misunderstanding among the people etc.

WAYS OF FIGHTING POLITICAL

APATHY: These are the various ways to fight political apathy
1. POLITICAL AWARENESS: people should strive to known what is going on in their
political system they should understand and have current awareness of various
developments and activities of government in their country which will help fight
political apathy.
2. UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING POLITICAL RIGHTS: Citizens, apart from
understanding the democratic system, should be aware of the rights and duties in the
democratic system and perform their duties as expected.
3. DEFENDING RIGHTS: Citizens should be ready to defend their rights in the face
of opposition or hindrance. It is one thing to be aware of the rights, but it is another
to be able to defend it.
4. PARTICIPATION IN ELECTION: The best way to fight political apathy is the
participation of citizens in elections citizens should be ready to votes and defend
their votes to instill their will on the system. The people’s will cannot be instituted if
they do not defend and stand by it.
5. JOINING POPULAR ORGANIZATION: Political apathy can also be cured by
encouraging citizens to join popular political and will society groups or associations
through these organization they can make their opinions known and collectively fight
and also protect the rule of law which is the foundation of civilized society.
6. PERFORMING CIVIC DUTIES: Another major way to cut political indifference of
the citizens towards political activities is to encourage and make them perform their
political duties and obligations to their nations and government they should respect
and obey their law, serve their father and pay their taxes regularly for government to
provide basic amenities.
7. POVERTY REDUCTION/ ERADIATION: people who are poor do not have the time
or interest in politics. All they do is to toil from dusk to dawn in search of basic
necessities e.g. food, clothing, and shelter. Consequently if poverty is reduced or
completely eradicated in the society, more people will find time for politics.

WEEK 9
REVISION

WEEK 10
EXAMINATION