Citizenship – SS1 Government Lesson Note (Third Term)

A citizen is a person who is a legal member of a country, owes allegiance to it and enjoys full civil and political rights there.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. define a citizen and state how a citizen differs from a non-citizen;
2. describe the ways of acquiring citizenship;
3. describe the ways of losing citizenship;
4. list ways of safeguarding the rights of citizens;
5. state the limitations to a citizen’s rights.

Who is a citizen and who is a non-citizen?

A citizen is a legal member of a state who owes it loyalty and enjoys its rights.

• Citizen: a person who belongs to a state by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation or honour.
• Non-citizen (alien): a foreigner living in a state who is not entitled to all the rights of citizens.
• Duty of a citizen: citizens are expected to perform certain duties to the state because they belong to it.

What are the duties of a citizen?

The duties of a citizen are the obligations he owes the state in return for the rights he enjoys.

• Obey the law: respect the constitution and the laws of the country.
• Pay taxes: pay taxes and levies to help government provide services.
• Vote: take part in elections and choose leaders.
• Loyalty: remain faithful to the state and defend it when needed.
• Respect others’ rights: do not harm other people or damage public property.

What are the rights of a citizen?

The rights of a citizen are the freedoms and privileges the constitution guarantees to every citizen.

• Right to life: no one may be killed unlawfully.
• Right to personal liberty: no one may be arrested or detained without lawful reason.
• Right to fair hearing: every accused person is tried in a fair and open court.
• Freedom of expression and the press: citizens may speak, write and publish their views.
• Freedom of association and movement: citizens may join lawful groups and move freely.
• Right to own property: citizens may own movable and immovable property.
• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion: citizens may hold and practise any belief.

How can citizenship be acquired?

There are six ways of acquiring citizenship: birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, honorary citizenship and conquest.

1. Citizenship by birth: a person becomes a citizen by being born in a particular state. A child born to a Nigerian couple in the United States is automatically a citizen of that country.
2. Citizenship by descent: a person becomes a citizen because his parents are citizens. The same child is also a Nigerian citizen by descent because his parents are Nigerians.
3. Citizenship by registration: a person applies and is entered in the register of citizens. A foreign woman may become a citizen by marrying a Nigerian man and being registered.
4. Citizenship by naturalisation: a foreigner who has lived in a country for a long period may apply to become a citizen. In Nigeria the period is 15 years.
5. Honorary citizenship: a government may confer citizenship as an honour on a person who has served the country or humanity. The singer Miriam Makeba of South Africa was honoured with citizenship by several African countries.
6. Citizenship by conquest: the citizenship of some individuals may change when a territory is taken over after a war or secessionist struggle.

How can citizenship be lost?

Citizenship can be lost through disloyalty, supporting an enemy country, imprisonment, false declaration, treason or renunciation.

1. Disloyalty: a naturalised citizen can lose his citizenship if his activities harm the country’s corporate existence.
2. Supporting another country: a citizen who supports a country at war with his own may lose his citizenship.
3. Imprisonment: a naturalised citizen who is jailed for a crime within a set period after naturalisation (say 5 to 7 years) may lose his citizenship.
4. False declaration: a citizen may lose citizenship for a serious breach of the citizenship agreement, such as giving false information.
5. Treason: treason is the crime of betraying one’s country, for example by plotting to overthrow the government. A citizen found guilty of treasonable felony may lose his citizenship.
6. Failure to renounce former citizenship: a naturalised citizen who has not given up the citizenship of his former country may lose the new one.
7. Renunciation: a citizen can lose citizenship by formally declaring that he gives it up.

How can the rights of citizens be safeguarded?

The rights of citizens are safeguarded by laws, institutions and conditions that protect individuals from abuse.

1. Independent judiciary: an impartial judiciary must be in place for citizens to go to when their rights are infringed.
2. Freedom of the press: a free press can fearlessly expose abuses and protect citizens’ rights.
3. Democracy: rights are better protected in a democratic state than in a totalitarian or fascist state.
4. Entrenchment: the fundamental human rights should be clearly declared in the constitution.
5. Peace and order: an atmosphere of peace and order is necessary for the protection of rights.
6. Rule of law: the supremacy of law maintains the rights of the individual and the matching obligations.
7. Literacy level: illiteracy should be reduced, for example by organising adult education classes.
8. Reduction of poverty: poverty in society should be reduced sharply.

What limits a citizen’s rights?

A citizen’s rights are limited by laws and situations that protect other people, public order and state security.

1. Slander, libel and sedition: slander is a false spoken statement and libel a false written one that harms a person’s reputation. Sedition is stirring up rebellion against the government. These laws limit freedom of expression.
2. Conviction: a citizen who is convicted and imprisoned may lose voting rights and freedom of movement while in prison.
3. Emergency period: a dusk-to-dawn curfew in times of emergency limits freedom of movement.
4. State security: citizens may be denied the right to join secret societies or associations that threaten state security. This limits freedom of association.
5. Property: the government may take a citizen’s land if it is needed for development.
6. Trespass: a citizen has no right to enter another person’s property without permission. This limits freedom of movement.
7. Right to life: a citizen condemned to death for murder, armed robbery and similar offences loses the right to life.
8. Banned politicians: a politician banned because of his past role may be denied the right to vote and be voted for.
9. Ban on political activities: banning political activities in a country denies citizens their political rights.

What is the difference between a citizen and a non-citizen?

A citizen is a legal member of the state with full rights and duties. A non-citizen is a foreigner living in the state with fewer rights and no right to take part in politics.

Evaluation

1. Define a citizen.
2. List the ways of acquiring citizenship.
3. State four ways in which a citizen can lose his citizenship.
4. State four ways of safeguarding the rights of citizens.
5. State four differences between a citizen and a non-citizen.

Assignment

Explain citizenship by naturalisation, citizenship by conquest and the term treason, then highlight five ways by which the rights of a citizen can be limited.