Citizenship education is a body of knowledge or set of values and behavioral orientation necessary for the sustenance and well-being of the people. These knowledge, behavioural orientation and values are not only meant to create awareness, teach right values, right attitudes and behaviours but also make young people and adults better equipped to participate actively in democratic activities by insuring and exercising their rights and responsibilities in the society also citizenship education helps to enhance people's capacity to understand their roles obligations and duties as members of a society and the duties of the government to the citizens.
Goals of Citizenship Education
Some of the goals of citizenship education are as follows:
a. To enable people know their rights and duties as citizens.
b. To help citizens know the laws guiding or regulating their behaviours.
c. To inculcate the spirit of respect and obedience for leaders and fellow citizens in order to create a better society.
d. It guide the citizens in making rightful decisions and choices particularly voting at elections.
e. It teach the citizens the importance of respecting their national symbols such as the national currency, the national flag, coat of arms, national anthem and pledge etc.
f. To teach citizens how to demonstrate their love for the nation and keep it united in times of war or crisis.
g. It enables to know the structures and operation of the various arms of government such as the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.
h. It also help/guide citizens to develop skills that will make them function and live effectively in the society.
LAWS AND RIGHTS
Law is a body of official rules and obligations generally found in the constitution, legislation, judicial opinions etc. that is used to govern a society and to control the behaviour of its members. Laws are a set of rules that regulate the conduct of all citizens for the peace and progress of the community. It can also be seen as a command of the state backed by the threat of punishment.
TYPES OF LAW
1. Natural laws: these are a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as the basis for all human conduct. They are dictated by nature, and are inherent in every individual to guide their conduct. For instance every person enjoy the right to life from God, which cannot be wilfully terminated by any person.
2. International law: this is a body of rules established by custom or treaty and recognised by nations as binding in their relationship with one another, and it regulates the conduct of nations within the international community. Such laws can be in the form of treaties charter or conventions to guide member states.
3. Criminal law: this law is concerned with the breach of public order and is punishable by the state on behalf of the society. The law is governed by a penal code and it deals with criminal cases such as theft, murder, robbery, rape etc.
4. Public law: this law concerns the state as it relate with either the international community or even individuals. It is a law that protect public interest.
5. Civil Law: this is the law of the state that deals with the rights of private citizens. It provides rules for the conduct of relations and transactions between persons or organisations.
6. Corporate Law: this is a set of laws (rules) that govern business enterprises and their workings. It is the laws that govern the workings of shareholders, directors, employees, creditors, consumers etc.
7. Environmental Laws: this is a body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations and common law that regulate the interaction between humanity and natural environment, towards the purpose of reducing the impact of human activities. It is concerned with pollution control, resource conservation and management.
Rights of Individuals
Rights is a legal moral entitlement of a citizens to certain benefits. All citizens are allowed to enjoy these right it irrespective of race, sex, and religious affiliations. It is the practice of modern governments to entrench these rights in their constitution for purpose of certainty. These rights are sometimes referred to as fundamental human rights. They are contained in chapter four (4) of the Nigerian constitution of 1999.
Types of Rights
1. Civil Rights: these are rights which an individual exercise for general good of the society. They include:
a. Right to vote and be voted for during elections
b. Right to hold political office
c. Right to freedom of association
d. Right to minimum education.
e. Right to good health.
2. Economic Right: these are rights to engage in gainful and lawful employment. Citizens must have equal access to the resources which belongs to the state. They include:
a. Right to work.
b. Right to choose a trade or profession
c. Right to participate in controlling and managing economic activities of the nation.
d. Right to own private property
3. Political Rights: these are the rights which an individual possesses that enable him or her to participate in the process of governing a state. They are
a. Right to secure full residence,
b. Right to form association and assembly,
c. Right to vote and be voted for,
d. Right to hold public office,
e. Right to freedom of expression and the press
4. Social Rights: these rights refer to the enjoyment of social facilities or services that allow citizens to have equal access to decent life. They are:
a. Right to minimum education,
b. Right to good health,
c. Right to age insurance,
d. Right to equal treatment before the law,
e. Right to freedom from discrimination on ground of sex race or religion
Roles and Obligations of Citizens
Obligations are duties and actions which are expected from citizens in return for the right or freedom they enjoy as citizens of a country. These include:
1. Economics/Financial Obligations
a. Payment of correct taxes,
b. Respect and protection of public properties,
c. To be gainfully employed in order to earn
2. Civic and Political Obligations
a. Respect for national symbols,
b. Voting during election,
c. Respect for constituted authority.
3. Social Obligations
a. defence of the country during war,
b. protection of countries name,
c. Maintenance of peace,
d. Environmental cleaners.
Functions and structures of government
Government is an organised body of persons charged with the responsibility of making laws implementing the laws and punishing those who break them as well as protecting the lives and properties of citizens. Government perform the following functions:
1. maintenance of law and order through the police and other law enforcement agents,
2. defence and security of the state against external attack,
3. provision of welfare services such as education health care etc.
4. provision of social amenities such as roads electricity etc.
5. provision of employment opportunity for the people.
Structures of Government
Government is the structure for carrying out the business of the state. It is structured into what is known as the three arms of government namely; the legislature, executive and judiciary.
The Legislature
The legislature is the arm of government empowered to make or a repeal laws, and to levy and regulate its taxes for the good governance of the state. Most modern legislatures are made up of elected representatives composed of many members who are choosing directly or indirectly by popular vote.
In Nigeria, the national assembly is made up of two houses namely; the senate with (109) members and the House of Representatives with (360) members at the federal level. At the state level, the legislature is known as the house of assembly while at the local government level it is called the local government council.
The leader of the senate is called the senate president, the leader of the House of Representatives is called the speaker, and the head of the state House of assembly is also called the speaker. All the heads presides over their affairs.
Functions of the legislature
1. Law making: this is the basic function of the legislature. It makes laws for the promotion of welfare of the people.
1. Oversight Function: the legislature monitors the execution of projects of executives to ensure judicial use of public funds
2. Amendment of the constitution and other laws: the legislature effects necessary amendments in the constitution and other laws to meet the current expectation of the
3. Approval of appointments: the legislature also approve the appointment of certain key government functionaries presented by the executive like the ministers, ambassadors etc.
4. Control of Finance: the legislature has power over the national pulse. It has the power to approve the raising and spending of public funds.
The executive
The executive arm of government is one that has the sole authority for the daily administration of state policies. Its role is to enforce or implement the laws enacted by the legislature. It carries out the day to day activities of government through the assistance of public (civil) servants. It performs the following functions:
1. The executives implement policies that enables citizens to enjoy their basic rights.
2. It formulate policies for the promotion of welfare of citizens.
3. It is responsible for the maintenance of law and order through the various law enforcement agencies like the police.
4. It prepares bills that will enhance the enjoyment of rights of citizens.
5. It prepares a budget that will enhance the economic well-being of citizens.
The Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of a country. It also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. The judiciary interprets laws and activities of the legislature and executive. It comprises of courts judges
and magistrates. some of these functions performed by the judiciary are:
1. The judiciary interprets the laws of the country by giving the actual meaning of the provisions of the laws and constitution.
2. It enforces laws and decisions of government for the enjoyment of rights of citizens.
3. It punishes offenders who violate the laws of the land.
4. It settles dispute between individuals and between individuals and government.
5. it controls the excesses of the executive and legislature. It checks arbitrary use of power by government functionaries
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