Third Term Lesson Note for Week
Class: Primary 5
Subject: Civic Education
Topic: Duties and Obligations of a citizen
A citizen is charged with the following duties and obligations to the government :
(i) Payment of taxes.
(ii) Obedience to the laws of the state.
(iii) Proper use of public facilities such as pipe-borne water.
(iv) Respect for national symbols like the national flag and leaders.
(v) Defence of the country in times of war.
(vi) Loyalty and patriotism to the nation.
(vii) Orderliness in exercising one’s rights in order not to violate the rights of others.
(viii) Participation in public affairs such as voting during elections.
(ix) Respect for traffic rules to ensure the safety of other road users.
(x) Maintaining law and order by assisting in the arrest of criminals and offenders.
(xi) Respect for traffic rules to ensure the safety of other road users.
(xii) Rendering assistance to victims of disasters.
(xiii) Participating in national service, for example the National Youth Service Corps.
(xiv) Being good ambassadors or representatives of the country.
For a society to develop, citizens must carry out their own obligations. If citizens do not perform these obligations, the government cannot succeed. This is because of the following:
1.) If citizens do not pay their taxes and other levies, government will not have enough money to provide essential services for the people.
2.) If citizens do not vote, they will not be able to choose a government that will understand their needs.
3.) If citizens vandalize public property such a electric poles and pipelines, the government will use available resources to repair them instead of providing other services.
4.) If citizens do not trust and obey the government, there will be chaos in the land.
Review Exercise:
1. State five duties and obligations of a citizen to the government.
2. Describe two consequences if citizens fail to perform their duties.