Duties and Obligations of Citizens – SS1 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Duties and obligations are the things a citizen must or should do for the country in return for the rights the country gives.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. Distinguish between a duty and an obligation.
2. Explain why citizens must obey laws and pay taxes.
3. Describe ways of showing loyalty to Nigeria.
4. Give examples of civic responsibilities.
5. Explain the balance between rights and duties.

What are the duties and obligations of a citizen?

A duty is something a citizen is legally required to do, such as obeying laws and paying taxes.

An obligation is a moral or social tie that binds a citizen to the country, such as voting, protecting public property and serving the community.

• Give and take: rights are what the country gives us, and duties are what we give back.
• Everyday example: if you want a clean house, you must help to sweep it.
• National example: if we want a great Nigeria, each citizen must do his or her part.

How does a duty differ from an obligation?

What are the duties of a citizen under the Nigerian Constitution?

The Constitution lists the duties of a citizen in Section 24 of Chapter II.

• Respect the Constitution: abide by it and respect its ideals and institutions.
• Respect national symbols: honour the Flag, the National Anthem and the National Pledge.
• Protect the nation’s name: help to build the good name and standing of Nigeria.
• Defend the country: be ready to defend Nigeria and give national service when required.
• Respect others: respect the rights and dignity of other citizens.
• Serve the community: make useful contributions to the progress of the community.
• Pay taxes honestly: declare income honestly and pay the taxes due.
• Support law and order: assist the lawful agencies that keep peace and order.

Why must citizens obey the laws?

Citizens must obey laws because laws keep order and keep everyone safe.

• Order: imagine a road with no traffic rules, where everyone drives as they like. Accidents would happen all the time.
• Safety: laws protect life, property and freedom.
• Fairness: laws apply to every citizen, rich or poor.
• Punishment: people who break the law can be fined or sent to prison.

Which laws and rules must we follow?

• The Constitution: the highest law of the land.
• Traffic laws: they protect road users.
• School rules: they keep the school orderly and safe.

Why must citizens pay taxes?

A tax is a compulsory payment made by citizens and businesses to the government to fund public services.

• Now: students do not yet earn money, so they do not pay income tax.
• Later: once you work or run a business, paying tax becomes a compulsory duty.

What does the government use taxes for?

• Roads and bridges: building and repairing them.
• Electricity and water: providing public utilities.
• Schools and hospitals: paying teachers, doctors and nurses.
• Security: equipping the police and the armed forces.

What is tax evasion?

Tax evasion is the deliberate refusal to pay tax, or hiding income to avoid paying it.

• Less money: the government cannot fix the schools and hospitals citizens use.
• Poor services: roads, power and security get worse.
• Legal punishment: the evader can be fined or prosecuted.

What is loyalty to the nation?

Loyalty is faithful support for your country, putting it first even in hard times.

• Football fan example: a true fan does not stop supporting the team because it lost one match.
• Patriotism: deep love for your country that makes you want to see it succeed.

How can a citizen show loyalty to Nigeria?

• Respect national symbols: stand properly for the Flag, the National Anthem and the National Pledge.
• Keep national secrets: do not give sensitive information to people who could harm the country.
• Speak well of Nigeria: protect its good name at home and abroad.
• Be honest: avoid cheating, bribery and other acts that disgrace the nation.
• Work for progress: study hard and contribute to your community.

What are civic responsibilities?

Civic responsibilities are the things a good citizen should do to help the community, even where the law does not force them.

• Voting: from age 18 a citizen can vote. If good people do not vote, poor leaders may win.
• Protecting public property: streetlights, public walls, buses and boreholes belong to everyone.
• Community service: cleaning your street, joining a neighbourhood watch or volunteering for a charity.
• Respecting others: treat people of other tribes and religions with dignity.
• Helping law and order: report crime to the proper authorities.

How do rights and duties balance each other?

Rights and duties balance each other because every right a citizen enjoys comes with a matching duty.

• Rights: what you receive from the country.
• Duties: what you give to the country.
• Only demanding rights: if people refuse their duties, order breaks down, like a scale that tips over.
• Doing your duty: citizens who do their duties have the moral strength to demand their rights from the government.

What are examples of legal duties and moral obligations?

• Legal duties: paying tax, obeying laws, serving as a witness in court.
• Moral obligations: voting, being honest, helping your neighbours.

Evaluation

1. Explain the difference between a duty and an obligation.
2. If everyone in your street stopped paying for waste collection, what would happen to the street in two weeks?
3. List three ways you can show loyalty to Nigeria even as a student.
4. Why is it wrong to destroy a government-owned bus during a protest?
5. Give two rights and the duty that matches each.

Assignment

In your notebook, explain why paying tax is a duty. Name four things the government uses taxes for, and say what can happen when people evade tax.