QUESTION 1

INTRODUCTION

The relative roles of the three tiers of government—the federal government, the state

governments, and the local government authorities (LGAs)—in public service delivery has

emerged as one of the most important topics of open and vigorous debate in the new democratic

climate in Nigeria. There have been increasing calls for intergovernmental fiscal relations to be

reassessed in light of a widespread belief that although the states and LGAs are assigned primary

responsibility for the delivery of basic public services, they are not equipped with adequate

revenue resources to fulfill their expenditure obligations because the bulk of government

revenues is retained by the federal government.

The discussion is overwhelmingly centered around the revenue sharing formula that

allocates resources from the Federation Account amongst the three tiers of government currently,

48.5 percent of the resources are transferred to the federal government, 24 percent to the state

governments, and 20 percent to the LGAs.1 The sub-national tiers of government are now

demanding that their respective shares be substantially increased.

However, there is palpable lack of discussion around whether the current practice of

assuming expenditure responsibility and undertaking its implementation is such that a mere shift

in resource allocation will achieve the desired objective of delivering better services to the

majority of Nigerians. A real issue at stake, which has not received much attention to date, is

how effectively do the different tiers of government use their existing resources to perform their

functions. In fact, it may be argued that in the context of the Nigerian economy, states and LGAs

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receive a substantial amount of resources, with their total revenues amounting on average to over

5 percent of GDP between 1990 and 1999, and over 10 percent of GDP after the oil price

increase in 1999. This report will focus on how the federal system actually works in delivering

basic services, and whether there is scope to realign responsibilities—both financial and

managerial—to improve accountability and performance. The analysis will seek to provide some

informed speculation on what could be expected in terms of outcomes if revenue shares were

changed without any reassessment of the sharing of expenditure responsibilities.

Thus, it aims to contribute to the process of national dialogue in the country to reach an

agreement on which tier is best suited to undertake what expenditure responsibilities and how

these should be financed.

THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT

The government may exist under three levels. This is federal, state and local government. All

the three tiers of government exist for and have things in common, which, essentially, are to

improve the lives of their people. Their individual and collective power, functions, and limitation

and enumerate in the constitution of the country.

A. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The federal government is the highest tier of the government structure. It was formed in

1963, and its founding document is the Constitution of Nigeria. It consists of three branches,

namely legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is represented by the bicameral

National Assembly, executive power is held by the president, and judicial arm is the Supreme

Court of Nigeria.

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The federal government is responsible for dealing with defense, internal security and

intelligence, foreign affairs, fiscal transfers, customs, immigration, environmental protection,

policing, water resources and so much more. It is also involved in various affairs that are mostly

carried out by the States.

FUNCTIONS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1. Nigerian Federal Government Maintains Law and Order

It is one of the most important responsibilities of the Nigerian federal government to

make sure that, the Nigerian federation is kept intact by ensuring that, law and order are

maintained. It is such duty on the part of the Nigerian federal government that brings about peace

and tranquility in the nation.

In achieving this noble goal, the police, the armed forces, and also the court of law, have

swung into action with a view to protecting the rights and liberties of Nigerian citizens and its

residents within the country. Individuals’ conducts and behaviours living together and within the

Nigerian society have been regulated in order for them to conform to the laid down rules and

regulations, even as those violating the laws are punished.

2. The Nigerian Federal Government Protects Lives and Properties

Another function of the Nigerian federal government was to make sure that, the lives of

its citizenry and their properties are protected. The Nigerian federal government protection of its

citizenry covers those living within the country and those living outside the country.

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And this function of the Nigerian federal government has provided Nigerian citizens to enjoy the

right to life and to also own properties and use these properties. This aspect of the Nigerian

federal government function is very important since it will safeguard Nigerian citizens from any

threat to life.

3. The Nigerian Federal Government Promotes Democracy and Social Justice

Democracy is reputed to be the best form of government since the system encouraged

political inclusiveness and participatory governance. In other words, democracy is the

government of the people, by the people and for the people, according to Abraham Lincoln. And

it is a system that promotes social justice. Going by this, it has been the function of the Nigerian

federal government to promote the system of democracy, as well as, promote social justice for

the purpose of ensuring that, Nigerian citizens fully enjoy their rights, as well as realizing their

individual potentials.

4. The Nigerian Federal Government Provides Social Welfare Services

It is the responsibility of the Nigerian federal government to provide social welfare for its

citizenry, and so, through the internally generated revenue, a number of resources have been

harnessed by the federal government, and revenue gotten from these resources have been used to

provide some basic life’s necessity for the Nigerian citizens. Some of these basic life’s necessity

include road and hospital and pipe-borne water and electricity as well as, education among other

important services, such that would help improve the livelihood of the Nigerian citizens.

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5. The Nigerian Federal Government Protects Human Rights

Human rights protection is one of the functions of the Nigerian federal government, and

this to the government, is a priority, and so, what the Nigerian federal government does is to

make sure that the fundamental rights of every of its citizenry are protected. This is one of the

reasons, why there is an advocacy that the Nigerian federal government should allow the

judiciary to remain independent in its operations, so as to Carry out its statutory functions

without favour or fear, particularly, when any Nigerian citizen attempt to sue for the purpose of

redress, when someone infringed on their rights.

6. The Nigerian Federal Government Provides Employment Opportunities

One of the core functions of the Nigerian federal government has been to provide

employment for its teeming citizens. The Nigerian federal government will go about this by

promoting and providing employment opportunities for its people. As part of this effort, it is

expected of the Nigerian federal government to make sure that, enabling environment is

provided, as a way of encouragement to its citizenry to avail themselves of such opportunities to

better themselves. The Nigerian federal government will achieve this by given out subsidy, as

well as, reducing the excise duty on importation and cut in taxes.

B. THE STATE GOVERNMENT

The state government is the middle tier in the government structure. As there are 36 states in

Nigeria, there are also 36 state governments. As for the Federal Capital Territory, it has a

ministry instead of a government. Like the federal government, state governments have

legislative, executive and judiciary branches. The legislative branch is the unicameral state

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House of Assembly, the executive arm is the Governor who is the head of the State Executive

Council, and the judiciary power is held by the state’s High Court and Chief Justice.

State governments are responsible for everything that is not the federal government’s

responsibility, even though sometimes both of these tiers are involved. Among some major state,

responsibilities are hospitals, schools, sport and recreation, roads and public transportation,

agriculture, consumer affairs, prisons, police and so on.

Functions of the state government

State governments are charged with the duty to make sure the roads under their care are

well maintained. The roads and highways in each state are divided between local, state and

federal governments. States build and maintain roads and highways through their local state

Department of Transportation.

These state transportation departments oversee the building of new roads and the maintenance of

intrastate transportation for the U.S. Department of Transportation. The states are also

responsible for public safety, as in the case of state troopers, highway patrol, and Texas Rangers.

The local government

Local government is the lowest tier in the government structure. You might not know

this, but there are actually 774 local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria, meaning that there are

774 local governments in the country, each administered by a Local Government Council. They

all vary in character and size. Every LGA is further divided into wards. Local governments are

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responsible for small local matters, such as public health, waste disposal, local roads and

footpaths, parks, libraries, tax collection and so on.

When it comes to larger projects, local government work with their state government to

achieve results. However, this tier of government is meant to bring power closer to the people.

Unfortunately, in Nigeria, local governments struggle from the lack of autonomy from the state

governments, as well as from the lack of funds. That was a quick overview of the three tiers of

government in Nigeria. Now you know that there is the federal government, 36 state

governments, and 774 local governments, each laden with their own functions and

responsibilities that sometimes overlap. We hope that you have been able to learn something new

about the workings of your country

Functions of the local government

1. The functions and tasks of the local government are prescribed in the Nigerian constitution of

1999. Representatives of this organization collect taxes, work with tele-broadcasting and

radio, transport licenses, cemeteries and provide houses for the people in need.

2. The local government should ensure order in the markets, provide citizens with amenities,

service roads, streets, drains, public places and build new facilities when necessary.

3. It is responsible for waste removal, evaluation of residential properties for further tax

collection and birth, death and marriage registrations.

4. It monitors the activities of small organizations like restaurants, shops, bakeries, kiosks, and

other places where food and beverages are sold.

5. In addition, functions of local authorities include ensuring the proper functioning of the

educational system, the agricultural sector and natural sphere except for mining operations.

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 Attention is also given to medical care and other duties that can be prescribed by a higher

government. In order to achieve positive results in Nigeria, it is extremely important to deal

with the problem of corruption; it is also necessary to take into account the interests and

needs of the general population. The proper management of money will lead to a prosperous

life of people in various regions of Nigeria.

6. Local governments play a key role in public education in the U.S. From kindergarten to

community college, local governments, along with states, provide the primary funding for

public schools, using money largely raised through state and local taxes. Local governments

at all levels decide education policy, including county, city, town, and district. Their task is to

make critical decisions about funding and pedagogy while serving as a channel between local

communities and state education departments.

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QUESTION 2

INTRODUCTION

Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on understanding different

aspects of human personality. The field of personality psychology seeks to understand what

causes different personality traits. It also works to understand, diagnose, and treat problems with

personality, which are known as personality disorders. Personality is the characteristic pattern of

behaviors, feelings, thoughts, and attitudes that influence how we interact with the world around

us. Some things are innate, while others are influenced by factors such as upbringing and

environment.

IMPORTANCE OF PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY

Personality psychologists often look at how personality varies from one individual to the

next, as well as how it may be similar. These professionals may also be tasked with the

assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of personality disorders. Understanding personality also

allows psychologists to predict how people will respond to certain situations and the sorts of

things they prefer and value. To get a sense of how researchers study personality psychology, it

will be helpful to learn more about some of the most influential personality theories.

Personality psychology helps people better understand the factors that play a role in

personality. It also allows us to know more about how certain personality characteristics affect

behavior.  For example, some traits are linked to higher levels of happiness and well-being.

Some traits are connected to greater longevity, while others have been linked to an increased risk

of illness.

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According to the American Psychological Association, the study of personality focuses on two

main areas.

 The first involves studying how individuals differ in terms of different personality

characteristics.

 The second focuses on understanding how the many different aspects of personality

function together to create a cohesive whole.

Personality psychology also helps mental health professionals understand disorders related to

personality, such as borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.

Theories of Personality Psychology

A number of theories have emerged to explain the aspects of personality. Some are focused on

explaining how personality develops, while others are concerned with individual differences in

personality.

Trait Theories of Personality

The trait theories of personality center on the idea that personality is comprised of broad

traits or dispositions. Various theories have been proposed to identify which attributes are key

components of personality, as well as attempts to determine the total number of personality traits.

Psychologist Gordon Allport was one of the first to describe personality in terms of individual

traits. In his dispositional perspective, Allport suggested that there are different kinds of traits:

common, central, and cardinal.

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Common traits are shared by many people within a particular culture. Central traits are those

that make up an individual's personality. Cardinal traits are those that are so dominant that a

person becomes primarily known for those characteristics.

Allport suggested that there were as many as 4,000 individual traits. Psychologist

Raymond Cattell proposed that there were 16. Cattell also believed that these traits exist on a

continuum and that all people possess each trait in varying degrees. A psychologist named Hans

Eysenck would narrow the list of traits further, suggesting there were only three: extroversion,

neuroticism, and psychoticism.

The "Big Five" theory is perhaps the most popular and widely accepted trait theory of

personality. The theory proposes that personality is made up of five broad personality

dimensions:

 Agreeableness

 Conscientiousness

 Extroversion

 Neuroticism

 Openness

The Big Five theory states that each trait exists as a broad continuum. An individual's personality

will fall somewhere on the spectrum for each trait. For example, you might be high in

extroversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness, but somewhere in the middle for openness

and neuroticism.

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Theories of Personality Development

Freud's theory of psychosexual development is one of the best-known personality

theories—but also one of the most controversial. According to Freud, children progress through

a series of stages of personality development. At each stage, libidinal energy (the force that

drives all human behaviors) becomes focused on specific erogenous zones. Successful

completion of a stage allows a person to move on to the next phase of development. Failure at

any stage can lead to fixations that can impact someone's adult personality.

Erik Erikson, another psychologist, described eight psychosocial stages of life. With

Erikson's theory, each stage plays a significant role in the development of a person's personality

and psychological skills. During each psychosocial stage, an individual will face a

developmental crisis that serves as a turning point in their development. Successfully completing

each stage leads to the development of a healthy personality. While Freud's theory suggested

that personality is primarily formed and set in stone at an early age, Erikson believed that

personality continued to develop throughout life. Erikson was also more interested in how social

interactions influenced the development of personality and was primarily concerned with the

development of what he called ego identity.

Assessments in Personality Psychology

To study and measure personality, psychologists have developed personality tests, assessments,

and inventories. The tests are widely used in a variety of settings. For example, the famous

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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is frequently used as a pre-employment screening

assessment.

Other assessments can be used to help people learn more about different aspects of their

personalities. Some tests are used as screening and evaluation tools to help diagnose personality

disorders. Gaining a better understanding of your personality can be helpful in many aspects of

your life. For example, relationships with friends, family, and coworkers might improve when

you become aware that you work well with others or that you need to make time to be alone.

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