Duties and Responsibilities of Citizens – SS2 Civic Education Lesson Note (First Term)

Duties and obligations of citizens are the responsibilities that the constitution and the law expect citizens to perform for the smooth running of the state.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define duties and obligations of citizens.
2. Name the three categories of citizens’ obligations.
3. Give examples of civic or political, economic and social obligations.
4. List at least six duties and obligations of citizens in society.
5. Explain why citizens should perform their duties and state what follows when they fail.

What are duties and obligations of citizens?

A duty is something a citizen is expected to do for the state and for other citizens.

• Duty: something a citizen is expected to do for the state and for other citizens.
• Obligation: a responsibility a citizen must meet, because the constitution and the law require it.
• Citizen: a person who belongs to a state by birth, registration or naturalisation.
• Constitution: the supreme law of the state. It guarantees the rights of citizens and states what is expected of them.

What does the Nigerian Constitution say about citizens’ duties?

The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria lists the duties of a citizen in Chapter II, Section 24.

• Respect the constitution: abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions.
• Respect national symbols: honour the national flag, the national anthem and the national pledge.
• Support law and order: help the lawful authorities to maintain law and order.
• Serve the community: contribute to the advancement of the community where one lives.
• Be honest about income: declare income honestly to the proper authorities and pay tax as the law requires.

How are duties and rights related?

Rights are the freedoms and benefits a citizen enjoys, while duties are the responsibilities a citizen must perform.

What are the categories of citizens’ obligations?

There are three categories of citizens’ obligations: civic or political, economic and social.

Civic or political obligations

• Meaning: the political duties of citizens to the state.
• Voting: taking part in elections to choose leaders.
• Readiness to serve: being willing to serve the country when called upon.
• Obedience: keeping to law and order.

Economic obligations

• Meaning: duties linked to business, revenue, funding and the maintenance of infrastructure.
• Prompt payment of taxes: the main example. Tax money pays for roads, schools, hospitals and security.

Social obligations

• Meaning: duties that relate to a person’s dealings with government agents, government property and other citizens.
• Respect for constituted authority: showing respect to lawful leaders and officers.
• Orderliness in public places: queueing and behaving well in markets, parks and motor parks.
• Environmental sanitation: keeping homes, streets and drains clean.
• Protection of public property: not damaging public buildings, roads, water points or electricity equipment.

Summary table of the categories

What are the duties and obligations of citizens?

The main duties of a citizen are obeying the law, paying taxes, voting, respecting others’ rights, reporting crime and serving the community.

1. Obedience to law and order: citizens must obey the laws of the state and behave in an orderly way.
2. Payment of taxes: citizens owe the state this duty. Tax evasion by a person who earns an income is an offence.
3. Voting during elections: all qualified citizens should take part in choosing leaders at every level.
4. Respect for the rights of other citizens: one must not infringe on others’ rights while exercising one’s own.
5. Reporting crime: suspected criminal cases should be reported to the police or another appropriate agency.
6. Serving as a witness: a citizen should be ready to give evidence in court when needed.
7. Respect for national symbols: this includes the flag, the coat of arms, the national pledge and the national anthem.
8. Community service: citizens should join in communal work, including environmental sanitation.
9. Defence of the nation: citizens should be willing to defend the country at all times.

How can a student perform civic duties?

A student performs civic duties by keeping rules, caring for shared property and taking part in school life.

• Obey school rules: this trains a student to obey the law as an adult.
• Respect national symbols: stand properly and sing the anthem and pledge at assembly.
• Keep the school clean: join sanitation and clean-up duties in the classroom and compound.
• Protect school property: do not write on walls or break desks, windows and fittings.
• Vote responsibly: take part in school elections, such as choosing prefects, and register to vote at the right age.
• Report wrongdoing: tell a teacher about bullying, theft or danger.

Why should citizens perform their duties?

Citizens perform their duties so that the state can be governed well and everyone’s rights stay safe.

• Good governance: voting and tax payment help the government work well.
• Peace and order: obeying laws reduces crime and conflict.
• Protection of rights: respecting others’ rights keeps everyone’s rights safe.
• Development: taxes and community service provide and maintain public facilities.
• Right to complain: a citizen who refuses to vote has given up a say in choosing leaders. Such a person has little ground to complain of bad governance.

What happens when citizens fail in their duties?

When citizens fail in their duties, the law may punish them and the whole society suffers.

• Tax evasion: it is an offence and can lead to punishment by law.
• Disobedience to law: offenders may be arrested, tried and punished.
• Poor voter turnout: weak or unfit leaders may win elections.
• Damage to public property: the public loses facilities, and repairs cost more money.
• Poor sanitation: blocked drains and refuse heaps spread disease and cause flooding.

Evaluation

1. What are duties and obligations of citizens?
2. Name the three categories of citizens’ obligations.
3. Give two examples of social obligations.
4. State the economic duty of a citizen mentioned in this lesson.
5. Why does a citizen who refuses to vote have little ground to complain of bad governance?

Assignment

• Instruction: choose the letter that best answers each question. Answer all five.

1. Which of the following is NOT a category of citizens’ duties? A. Economic B. Social C. Political D. Education
2. The responsibilities of citizens to a state are called A. rights B. obligations C. needs D. demands
3. Which of the following is NOT a duty of a citizen? A. Tax payment B. Arrest of criminals C. Loyalty to the state D. Voting during an election
4. Which of the following guarantees human rights in a state? A. Constitution B. Beliefs C. Obligations D. Executive order
5. The duty of a citizen to pay tax promptly falls under which of the following categories of obligations? A. Social B. Political C. Educational D. Economic