Before a treaty can be binding on a country, it has to be approved by the

1. Analyze the question The question asks which arm of government must approve a treaty before it becomes binding on a country. A treaty is a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states (for example, a trade pact, a defence agreement, or a human rights convention).

2. Explain the concept Treaty-making usually has two stages:

• Negotiation and signing: The executive (the President or Head of State, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry and diplomats) negotiates and signs the treaty.
• Ratification: The treaty is sent to the legislature for approval. Only after this does it become legally binding domestically.

In Nigeria, Section 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution states that no treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent that it has been enacted into law by the National Assembly. So the legislature has the final say.

3. Step-by-step solution

• A. Executive: It negotiates and signs the treaty, but signing alone does not make it binding. ✗
• B. Legislature: It debates, approves (ratifies), and enacts the treaty into law. ✓
• C. Judiciary: It interprets laws and settles disputes, and has no role in approving treaties. ✗
• D. Military: It is an agency of the executive for defence, and has no role in approving treaties. ✗

4. Answer The correct answer is B. legislature.

5. Exam tip Remember "Executive signs, Legislature seals." The executive negotiates and signs, and the legislature ratifies. The same pattern appears in other questions, such as approval of ministerial appointments, declaration of war, and budgets, where the legislature's approval is the final step.