CIVIC EDUCATION LESSON NOTE FOR JSS2

WEEK TOPIC

1 Government:
 Meaning and definition of government
 Arms of government and symbols of authority
2 Government:
 Functions and offices in the arm of government.
 Importance of balance among the Arms of government.
3 Leadership:
 Responsibilities of good leadership and followership.
 Consequences of bad leaders and followers.
4 The rule of law:
 Meaning of law and the rule of law
 Benefits of the rule of law as against arbitrary rule
5 The state and rule of law:
 Offences punishable by law “the meaning of the law is not a respecter of
any person”
6 The rule of law:
 Institutions responsible for making laws and enforcing the rules.
 The roles of the legislature, judiciary, executive, police and prison
service (correctional service).
7 Protection of human rights and the rule of law:
 Definition of human rights
 Individuals and group approach in protecting human rights
Protect marches, mass media coverage, hunger strike
8 Consumer rights:
 Universal rights of consumers
 Responsibilities of consumers
 Nigerian agencies in charge of consumers rights/protection
9 Consumers rights and responsibilities:
 Right to demand, right to be aware, right of keeping the proof of
transaction, speak boldly and think independently.

10 Revision

11 – 12 EXAMINATION
WEEK ONE

TOPIC: Government.

Government is an agency of the state that implements the will of the state in the society. The
duty of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens is given to the government by the
state. The state is a legal entity that protects the territorial integrity of the society.

By definition, government is an organized body in the society that is given the responsibility
of protecting the lives and properties of citizens by the state.

Arms of government

 The legislature
 The executive
 The judiciary

WEEK TWO

TOPIC: Government.

Functions of the legislature

a) Law making
b) Over-side function
c) Control of public expenditure
d) It can remove the executive head (through impeachment)
e) They represent the interest of their constituents

The office of the legislature in Nigeria is the national Assembly (Senate/house of

representative)

Functions of the executive

a) Implementation of government polices

b) Enforcement of laws
c) Signing of treaties with other nations
d) Appointment of ministers and head of agencies
e) Provision of infrastructural facilities

Functions of the judiciary

a) They adjudicate the law

b) Protection of human rights
c) Decide cases
d) They are the custodian of fundamental human rights
e) They protect the constitution
Importance of balance among the arms of government

1. It stops individuals from becoming too powerful in government

2. It avoids arbitrary use of power
3. It makes the constitution to be supreme
4. It makes the three arms of government to know the limit of their powers
5. It promotes accountability

WEEK THREE

Topic: Leadership

A leader is a person who influences a group of people towards achieving a goal. Leadership
is a position of office or authority.

Qualities of good leaders

1. He/she must be visionary

2. He must be inspirational
3. He must be strategic and think critically
4. He/she must be flexible
5. He must be responsible and dependable

Qualities of good followers

1. The must take direction but not blindly

2. Followers must be loyal to their leaders
3. Accept responsibilities when offered
4. Fight with their leaders when necessary
5. Make good decisions

Consequences of bad leaders

1. Brings about disregard for the rule of law

2. Leads to electoral malpractice
3. It can lead to thuggry
4. Increase in insecurity, corruption and unemployment
5. It brings underdevelopment.

WEEK FOUR

Topic: The Rule of law

Meaning of law: Is a set of rules that guides the behaviour of people in the society.
Rule of law: This simply means the supremacy or the predominance of the law.

Benefits of the rule of law as against arbitrary rule

1. It promotes accountability in governance

2. It makes the people to be civil
3. Rule of law discourage tyranny
4. It makes people to be equal before the law
5. It promotes separation of power

WEEK FIVE

Topic: The state and rule of law:

Offences punishable by law: arson, robbery, kidnapping, theft, burglary, assault, treason,
forgery, embezzlement, etc.

The law is not a respecter of any person- This means that everybody is equal before the
law.

WEEK SIX

Topic: The Rule of law

Institutions responsible for making laws and enforcing the rules - Police, drug law
enforcement agency, Nigerian civil defence Corp, EFCC, etc.

Role of the legislatures in enforcing the law: over-side function on the activities of the
executive.

Role of the executive in enforcing the law: they ensure this through the day-to-day
activities of government.

Role of the judiciary in enforcing the law: through the power of judicial review i.e the
application of the laws of the country.

Role of the Police in enforcing the law: maintenance of public order and safety.

Role of the prison (correctional service) in enforcing the law: managing of law offenders
and criminals in prison service.
WEEK SEVEN

Topic: Protection of human rights and the rule of law:

Definition of human rights: they are inalienable rights that are enjoyed by legal citizens of a
country.
The theories of human rights' origins are contentious. The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR) asserts that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."
It goes on to designate a long list of rights including:

 the right to life, liberty, and security of person,

 the right not to be tortured,
 the right to due process and equal treatment before the law,
 freedom of thought, opinion, expression, conscience, and religion,
 the right to participate in his or her countries' government
 the right to work, and an adequate standard of living

Individuals and group approach in protecting human rights

Protect marches, mass media coverage, hunger strike

Individuals and nongovernmental organizations can engage in actions like protest, mass
media, and even hunger strike when the rights of consumers are violated. Everybody in the
society is a consumer as a result collaborative actions are needed in ensuring the safety of all.
An injury to one is an injury to all.

WEEK EIGHT

Topic: Consumer rights/Universal rights of consumers

1. The Right to Safety: This right refers to any product, other than an automobile, that
may cause bodily harm to the consumer when used as it was intended to be used.
This right gained further attention in 1972, when the US government formed the
Consumer Product Safety Commission, which set up safety and performance
standards for products, requiring them to be tested and carry warning labels if
necessary. Conversely, the consumer’s responsibility here is to use the product
safely, follow all directions, and to be aware of any future warnings regarding the
product. If you’re concerned about safety in the workplace, this course on safety
training for supervisors will help get your work area ship shape.
2. The Right to Be Informed: Here, it is the company’s responsibility to provide
accurate and truthful information so that the consumer is able to make intelligent
 and informed choices. This right covers all products, but its original aim was to
eradicate misleading information in the areas of financing, advertising, labeling, and
packaging. Some examples of the legislation passed as a result of this right include
the Wholesome Meat Act, the Truth in Lending Act, and the Fair Packaging and
Labeling Act. The responsibility of the consumer lies in their obligation to analyze
this product information, and to use it wisely.
3. The Right to Choose: Consumers not only have the right to a variety of options to
choose from, but the environment in which the products and services are offered
must be healthy, and conducive to fair competition. The government has promoted
this environment by passing legislation regarding patent law, anti-trusts, and price-
cutting and gouging. The responsibility of the consumer is to simply make their
choices carefully. If you’ve got a patent you’d like to protect, this course on how to
write and file a patent will show you how to deal with patent protection yourself.
4. The Right to be Heard: Consumers have the right to express their complaints and
concerns, resulting not only in safer goods and services, but also for the creation of
laws regarding this safety. There’s no official forum for these complaints to be
heard, but state and federal attorney generals, as well as organizations like the Better
Business Bureau deal with these situations all of the time. It’s a consumer’s
responsibility to express their concern when necessary.
5. The Right to Satisfy Basic Needs: People have a right to have access to basic
fundamental needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, sanitation,
water, etc. Not only should consumers have access to these necessities, they should
be responsible enough to consume these items sustainably, so that not only are they
fulfilled, but so others can have their needs met, as well.
6. The Right to Redress: If a consumer has lost money or otherwise felt cheated due
to misrepresentation, shoddy products, or unsatisfactory services, they have the right
to request money or other benefits to make up for their loss. The responsibility that
lies with them is to seek appropriate compensation if a wrong is committed, in order
to any wrongdoings are unacceptable.
7. The Right to Consumer Education: Consumers have the right to make the best-
informed decision when making a purchase, and this information should be readily
available, and easy to understand. It is their duty to remain properly informed as the
nature of products evolves over time, and information changes.
8. The Right to a Healthy Environment: Expanding out from consumers rights, and
into basic human rights, people have the right to live and work in an environment
that is healthy non-threatening. This is not only for the people now, but also for
future generations, and their responsibility is to make choices that minimize their
environmental impact on the people of today and tomorrow.

Nigerian agencies in charge of Consumers rights/protection

1. Civil Society Organization

2. Trade Unions
3. Student Unions
4. Ethnic Association
5. Legal Aid Council Of Nigeria
WEEK NINE

Topic: Consumers rights and responsibilities:

Right to demand: consumers are entitled to demand or ask for the product of their choice.
Simply put, they have a choice to make from varieties of products in the market.

Right to be aware: producers have the obligation to create awareness of products available
in the market for consumers

Right of keeping the proof of transaction: consumers have the right to ask for proof of
payment for whatsoever they purchase in the market. i.e receipt

Speak boldly and think independently: consumers have the right to think and to express
their opinions on goods and services rendered to them without being intimidated.

WEEK TEN: REVISION

WEEK 11-12: EXAMINATION