CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES


Duty is what one must do either because of one’s job or because one thinks it is right. In the case of duty to the state, it is mandatory for one to perform such duty for effective governance of the state. Failure to perform one’s duty might lead to some legally recognized sanctions. In order words, duty to the state is a compulsory task, failure of which will attract the wrath of the law.

In this case, it does not need the sanction of one’s conscience as to whether the performance of such duty is right or wrong, but outright compliance to avoid unpleasant consequence.

There are civic duties, responsibilities or obligations which citizens are obliged, by law, to undertake for the state. These duties are performed in exchange for the protection the state provides. Some of these obligations include:

1. Paying of taxes✓

An important duty of any citizen in any country is to pay taxes to the state. Tax is a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions. Taxes are used in the development of a country, therefore if the citizens do not pay their taxes, it would be difficult for the state to carry out important development and management projects.

2. Obeying the laws of the state✓

Law and order is a prerequisite of every society. To ensure that there is law and order therefore, every citizen must obey the laws of the land. Citizens are expected to respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.

3. Participating in the political process✓

Citizens are expected to participate in the political process of the state. The citizen is expected to vote and can also be voted for if he or she vies for a political office. Citizens are expected to be active in the democratic process.

4. Protection of public property✓

Every citizen has the responsibility to protect state property. A lot of tax money is spent by governments to create public properties for the state. As such, it is expected of citizens to take care of these properties.

5. Defense of the state and crime prevention✓

Citizens are expected to be ready to defend the country if the need should arise. A citizen must be ready to take up arms in a lawful way to defend his country when it is attacked from outside or where there is an internal insurrection aimed at destabilizing the state.

In order to maintain law and order, citizens are also required to assist the police and defense forces to apprehend criminals. A citizen is obliged by law to report and even assist the police in investigations to solve a crime he or she witnessed. A citizen should also be willing to testify in court or serve on a jury to help convict the guilty or acquit the innocent.

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PERFORMING CIVIC DUTIES

There are disadvantages or better still consequences if citizens don’t perform their constitutional duties and obligations. They include:

1. Lack of orderliness in the state.

2. Arrest by the government in authority when laws are broken.

3. State of anarchy especially when citizens don’t vote their leaders.

4. Lack of development in the state especially when citizens don’t pay taxes.

5. State of oppression of the citizens by the government when they don’t speak.



SOURCE:
https://nigerianscholars.com/tutorials/citizenship-and-rights/general-obligations-of-citizens/

Every time, people kept asking what are the responsibilities of Citizens..
..
Now we have them..
..
The Next Question Now is, “How Much Are We Doing For Our Dear Country??”

Seun,
Lalasticlala

-

Sunstorm95:
Nigerians don't pay tax but expect development. And the government is incompetent not to implement efficient tax system. You can't pay what you're not asked.
In order to have an efficient tax system there needs to be compulsory ID database . Types of taxes : Sales tax, property tax , income tax. All progressive societies since the time of Jesus and ancient Babylonians always relied on tax to run society. reliance on monthly allocation is unsustainable , that's why most Nigerian cities and structures are not maintained . In Addition, it's also the government's obligation to enact and enforce laws such as buildings codes and zoning laws, and prohibitions like ban on street/roadside hawking, child labor , overloading of vehicles , littering,wrongful parking etc.
When citizens pay tax they feel motivated to demand services from the government and the government feels a sense of responsibility ,. but as it stands now the free oil allocation makes the leaders lazy.
Nigeria loses $40 billions in tax and fine evasions each year .

Brother....
I Just Love Every Single Thing You Wrote Up There..
If the Nigerian System is not faulty, and at the same time performs its obligations to the citizens, then the citizens would be naturally motivated to perform their own obligations to the Nigerian System.
...
Keep It Up My Brother.
I love unbiased and objective contributions like yours

-

Sunstorm95:
This should be on front page .

Lalasticlala