The people of Enugu have hailed government recent decisions to punish mortuaries charging fees above the N40 stipulated by the Enugu State Law.
The Law was made in 2004.
In Section 34 (Birth, Deaths, and Burial Law) Cap 15 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004 N40 (Forty Naira) per night must be paid by bereaved families for unclaimed dead bodies.
In flagrant disobedience of the Law, Enugu people have been made to pay higher prices for their dead ones, a situation the Governor Peter Mba administration has vowed to end.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, on Sunday, the government declared readiness to wield the big stick.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the N40 (Forty Naira) daily imposed by Births, Deaths, and Burials Law Cap 15 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004 was part of the effort of that administration to tackle the unhealthy habit by bereaved families to congest the morgues with their dead for many months, and even years in some instances.
“Several states in the southern part of the country have also taken steps in their own ways to curb this practice and burial expenses.
“Unfortunately, the said N40 (Forty Naira) per night, which comes to N1,200 a month has been jerked up by unscrupulous mortuary owners and agents who charge bereaved families arbitrary and indiscriminate fees/taxes.
“Therefore, the Board found it necessary to reiterate that the amount remains N40 (Forty Naira daily) as provided by the 2004 Law.”
The Board urged the public to report any hospital or mortuary charging anything beyond N40 (Forty Naira) per day to law enforcement agencies or the Board of Internal Revenue.
“For emphasis, although the value of N40 (Forty Naira) was much higher when the law was made in 2004, the government has not deemed it necessary to raise it. The government is more interested in persuading Ndi Enugu to bury their dead ones early and take their time to prepare for the funeral instead of leaving them in the morgues.”
The government explained that the memo, which was re – issued in 2023, but doctored by unscrupulous elements to read 17th September 2024, was aimed at saving bereaved families from extortion and exploitation by hospitals and tax agents, who charge way higher than N40 (Forty Naira) stipulated by the law made in 2004 to discourage bereaved families from the practice of congestion of the mortuaries with their dead for long.
COMMENT
Everydaynewsngr.net commends Enugu residents who wrote to us to commend the Government on this issue.
It must be noted that Mortuary charges are not remitted to the government. It’s thus, surprising that people would deliberately distort information to deceive and misinform the people. But thank God, that Enugu people have discerning minds and cannot be fooled.
The government of His Excellency Governor Peter Mba is focused, and landmark achievements are being recorded on a daily basis. This government cannot afford to allow itself to be distracted.
Keep a date every Monday for Good Morning Mr Governor.
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