General Studies And Current Affairs 2026 Njfp Job

General Yakubu Gowon was attending the 12th summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Kampala, Uganda, when he was overthrown in a bloodless military coup. The coup was led by Colonel Joseph Nanven Garba and resulted in Brigadier (later General) Murtala Muhammed becoming the Head of State. Gowon famously accepted the news with a quote from Shakespeare, stating, 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.'

The 1979 General Elections were contested by five registered parties: the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Nigerian People's Party (NPP), Great Nigeria People's Party (GNPP), and the People's Redemption Party (PRP). The Social Democratic Party (SDP) was not formed until 1989, under the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, as part of the two-party system leading up to the 1993 elections.

On October 1, 1979, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was sworn in as the first executive President of Nigeria, marking the beginning of the Second Republic. The oath of office was administered by the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the time, Justice Atanda Fatai Williams.
Note: While the provided key indicated Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, historical records confirm Justice Fatai Williams performed the ceremony as the sitting Chief Justice.

The British takeover of what is now Nigeria was primarily achieved through military conquest and the use of force

Before Nigeria became a Republic in 1963, it remained a Monarchy with the Queen as Head of State. Consequently, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London served as the final court of appeal for the country. Upon the adoption of the 1963 Republican Constitution, this link was severed, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria became the highest court in the land.

The Willink's Commission (1957–1958) was established to investigate the concerns of minority ethnic groups who feared domination by the majority groups (Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo) in the post-independence era. The commission recommended the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution to protect these minorities, rather than creating new states, which was the primary demand of the minority groups at the time.

According to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the country is divided into 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Each LGA is administered by a Local Government Council consisting of a Chairman and Councillors. These areas serve as the third tier of government, intended to bring governance and development closer to the grassroots population.

In Nigeria, the terminology for laws depends on the arm of government and the political era. Laws made by the State House of Assembly during a civilian administration are called 'Laws' (though the provided key suggests 'Edicts'). Historically, 'Edicts' were laws promulgated by State Military Governors, while 'Decrees' were made by the Federal Military Government. 'Acts' are made by the National Assembly, and 'Bye-laws' are made by Local Government Councils.

The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates into a single entity called Nigeria occurred in 1914 under Lord Lugard. Therefore, the 100-year (centenary) anniversary of this historic event took place in 2014. The year was marked with various national celebrations and the issuance of commemorative items to reflect on Nigeria's journey as a unified nation.

Lord Frederick Lugard is the British colonial administrator credited with the implementation of 'Indirect Rule' in Nigeria. This system involved governing the local population through their existing traditional institutions and rulers (such as Emirs and Obas). It was first successfully applied in Northern Nigeria and later extended to the South, though with varying degrees of success due to different indigenous political structures.