DIFFERENCES AMONG THE THREE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA

SUBJECT:

Civic Education

CLASS:         

BASIC  5 / GRADE 5 / PRIMARY 5

TERM:         

SECOND TERM (2ND TERM) 

WEEK:

WEEK 6

TOPIC:

DIFFERENCES AMONG THE THREE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA

Previous Lesson: 

 IMPORTANCE OF THE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

• List the differences between the arms of government in Nigeria

Learning Activities

• Pupils as individuals list the differences of the arms of government in Nigeria
• Pupils as a class discuss the difference of each arm of government in Nigeria

Embedded Core Skills

• Communication and Collaboration
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Leadership and Personal Development skills
• Creativity and Imagination
• Citizenship

Learning Resources

• Posters
• Pictures
• Resource Person
• Newspaper
• Whiteboard and markers
• Handout / Textbook with fill-in-the-blank questions
• PowerPoint presentation with slides on the functions of the arms of government in Nigeria
• Interactive quiz to assess understanding

Government : Types, Levels and Arms of Government in Nigeria

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES:

• Identification,
• Explanation,
• Questions and answers,
• Demonstration,
• Story-telling,
• Videos from source

Content

DIFFERENCES AMONG THE THREE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA

1. Executive: The executive arm of government is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and policies. It is headed by the President and Vice President, and includes various government departments and agencies, such as the Ministry of Justice and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
2. Legislature: The legislative arm of government is responsible for making laws. It consists of the National Assembly, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of the National Assembly are elected by the people and are responsible for representing their interests in the lawmaking process.
3. Judiciary: The judiciary is responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring that justice is served. It consists of a hierarchy of courts, including the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Courts. Judges are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

These three arms of government work together to ensure that Nigeria operates as a democratic country, with checks and balances in place to prevent any one branch from having too much power.

Evaluation

1. Which arm of government is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and policies in Nigeria? A. Executive B. Legislature C. Judiciary
2. Who is the head of the executive arm of government in Nigeria? A. President B. Senate President C. Chief Justice
3. What does the legislative arm of government in Nigeria do? A. Implement laws B. Make laws C. Interpret laws
4. Who are the members of the National Assembly in Nigeria elected by? A. The President B. The judiciary C. The people
5. What is the role of the judiciary in Nigeria? A. Making laws B. Enforcing laws C. Interpreting laws
6. What is the highest court in Nigeria’s judiciary system? A. High Court B. Court of Appeal C. Supreme Court
7. Who appoints judges in Nigeria? A. The National Judicial Council B. The Senate C. The President
8. Which arm of government works with the other two to ensure checks and balances in Nigeria’s democratic system? A. Executive B. Legislature C. All three arms
9. What is the role of the House of Representatives in Nigeria’s legislative arm of government? A. Representing the interests of the people in the lawmaking process B. Implementing laws C. Interpreting laws
10. What is the main function of the Senate in Nigeria’s legislative arm of government? A. Representing the interests of the people in the lawmaking process B. Implementing laws C. Appointing judges.

Lesson Presentation

Introduction (10 minutes):

• Explain the importance of understanding the different arms of government in a democratic system
• Briefly introduce Nigeria’s system of government as a federal democratic republic
• Engage the students by asking them about their prior knowledge of the three arms of government in Nigeria

Lecture and Discussion (30 minutes):

• Outline the key differences between the executive, legislative, and judiciary arms of government in Nigeria
• Use the whiteboard to diagram the different functions and responsibilities of each arm
• Highlight the importance of checks and balances to prevent any one arm from having too much power
• Encourage the students to ask questions and engage in discussions

Interactive Activities (20 minutes):

• Hand out the handout outlining the differences between the three arms of government
• Divide the students into groups and have them complete an interactive activity to reinforce their understanding of the topic
• Examples of activities could include creating a poster, role-playing a lawmaking scenario, or solving a case study

Conclusion (10 minutes):

• Summarize the key points covered in the lecture and discussion
• Reinforce the importance of understanding the three arms of government and their roles in a democratic system
• Encourage the students to continue learning and engaging with current events related to government and politics.

Assessment:

• Evaluate the students’ understanding of the topic through a written test or oral presentation
• Use the interactive activities as formative assessment to gauge the students’ understanding of the material.

Note: The time allocations for each section of the lesson plan can be adjusted based on the teacher’s preference and the students’ level of understanding

Weekly Assessment / Test

1. The ________ arm of government is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and policies in Nigeria.
2. The head of the executive arm of government in Nigeria is the ________ and Vice President.
3. The legislative arm of government in Nigeria is responsible for ________ laws.
4. The National Assembly in Nigeria is made up of the ________ and the House of Representatives.
5. Members of the National Assembly in Nigeria are elected by the ________.
6. The judiciary in Nigeria is responsible for ________ the law and ensuring that justice is served.
7. The hierarchy of courts in Nigeria’s judiciary system includes the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the ________.
8. Judges in Nigeria are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the ________.
9. The three arms of government in Nigeria work together to ensure that Nigeria operates as a democratic country, with checks and balances in place to prevent any one branch from having too much ________.
10. The role of the ________ in Nigeria’s legislative arm of government is to represent the interests of the people in the lawmaking process.

Answers:

1. Executive
2. President
3. Making
4. Senate
5. People
6. Interpreting
7. High Courts
8. National Judicial Council
9. Power
10. House of Representatives