General Studies And Current Affairs 2026 Njfp Job

In a democratic system, the legislative process involves several stages. When a proposed law (a bill) is passed by the legislative houses and receives the formal signature or 'assent' of the President or Governor, it officially becomes an Act of the National Assembly. A 'decree' is typically associated with military rule where laws are made by fiat, while an 'order' or 'proclamation' usually refers to executive actions that do not necessarily go through the full legislative process.

Checks and balances is a principle aimed at preventing the abuse of power by ensuring each arm of government can limit the others. The judiciary exercises this through 'judicial review,' which allows it to declare acts of the legislature or executive unconstitutional. By invalidating actions that overstep legal bounds, the judiciary ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful.

In a Westminster-style parliamentary system, the 'Shadow Cabinet' consists of a senior group of opposition spokespeople who 'shadow' or mirror the positions of each individual member of the actual Cabinet. Their role is to scrutinise government policies and provide alternative points of view. These portfolio designates are prepared to take over those specific ministerial roles should their party win a future election.

The Rule of Law rests on the foundational assumption of 'equality before the law'. This means that all individuals, regardless of their status, wealth, or political power, are subject to the same laws and entitled to the same legal protections. While the 'supremacy of the constitution' is a related mechanism, the human assumption driving the concept is that every person is equal in the eyes of the law.

Pressure groups (also known as interest groups) are organised bodies of individuals who seek to influence government policy or legislation to favour their specific cause or members. Unlike political parties, their primary goal is not to win elections or govern the country, but to apply 'pressure' on those already in power through lobbying, protests, or public awareness campaigns.

Multilateralism refers to a country's diplomatic strategy of engaging with multiple nations and international bodies simultaneously. For Nigeria, this entails active membership and participation in international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and ECOWAS. This approach allows Nigeria to pool resources and influence to address global challenges and promote its national interests on the world stage.

Foreign policy is the general objectives and strategies that guide a state's activities and relationships with other states. It represents the internal goals of a nation projected onto the international stage. While 'diplomacy' is the *method* of carrying out this interaction and 'international relations' is the *study* of these interactions, the specific set of policies themselves is known as foreign policy.

Following World War I, the League of Nations established the Mandate System. Germany's former colonies were placed under the administration of various Allied powers as 'Mandated Territories' (later known as Trust Territories under the UN). The intention was to prepare these territories for eventual self-determination and independence under international supervision, rather than allowing them to be annexed as permanent colonies.

The dispute over the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula was rooted in historical treaties. Nigeria and Cameroon had different interpretations of the 1913 Anglo-German Treaty and the 1975 Maroua Accord. The Maroua Accord was a maritime boundary agreement signed between General Yakubu Gowon of Nigeria and President Ahmadou Ahidjo of Cameroon, which Cameroon later used to support its claim to the territory before the International Court of Justice.

General Yakubu Gowon served as the Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) from 1973 to 1974. He was the first Nigerian Head of State to hold this prestigious continental position. His chairmanship was significant in promoting African unity and mediating conflicts across the continent during a period of intense decolonisation and regional tension.