Neco 2017 Civic Education Question 16

In a country, the constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly. A municipal by‑law requires a permit for any gathering of more than 20 persons and imposes a fee equal to \\(5\\%\\) of the average monthly income of participants. A survey shows that \\(40\\%\\) of households earn below the minimum wage of \\(\\text{₦}30{,}000\\) per month, and the average monthly income of all households is \\(\\text{₦}45{,}000\\). If a group of 50 people wishes to hold a peaceful protest, determine (a) whether the by‑law is consistent with the rule‑of‑law principle of constitutional supremacy, and (b) the total fee the group would have to pay if the by‑law were applied, assuming each participant pays the fee based on the average monthly income. Provide justification.