Anambra assembly passes bill to reduce burial expenses, mourning duration

The State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to control burial and funeral ceremonial activities in Anambra State.

The bill sponsored by Hon. Charles Ezeani, representing Anaocha Two Constituency was passed into law at Wednesday plenary after it was considered at the committee of the whole.

Blueprint learnt that the Anambra State Burial and Funeral Ceremonial Activities Bill is aimed at cutting down the cost of burial activities in the state.

The bill provides that in the event of death, no person shall deposit any corps at the mortuary or any other place beyond two months from the date of demise, while burial ceremonies in the state shall be for one day.

It further stipulates that during burial and funeral ceremonial activities, the family of the deceased shall provide food for their kindred, relatives and other sympathizers at their own discretion.

The bill also placed ban on destruction of property, gun shots, praise singing, blocking of roads and streets during burial ceremony in the state as defaulters shall be punished according to the law.

Speaking on the bill, Ezeani said the bill made it clear that from the commencement of the law, no person shall subject any relation of the deceased person to a mourning period of more than one week from the date of burial ceremony.

He stated that the Bill put in place a monitoring and implementation committee that would enforce the law as well as their responsibilities.

On his part, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Hafford Oseke described the bill as a welcome development, adding that it put to rest high cost of burial and ceremonial activities in the state.

Ruling on the bill, the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mrs. Rita Maduagwu said the bill would arrest unnecessary burial expenses in Anambra State.

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