President of the Institute, Pastor Oladele Emmanuel Temilade, who stated this at the body’s Governing Council review meeting held in Abuja said the institute has marshaled efforts to force Nigerians to adhere strictly to the Marriage Act which stipulates that, “No marriage in Nigeria shall be valid where either of the parties thereto at the time of the celebration of such marriage is married under customary law to any person other than the person with whom such marriage is had.”
Pastor Temilade said the non-compliance with the Act has been responsible for most of the crisis and tension in Nigerian families, leading to broken homes, wayward lifestyles among children and sundry issues that have facilitated the security challenges being experienced in the country.
He said the Institute is seeking an audience with the federal government, through the office of the Minister of Interior, “which is statutorily mandated on behalf of the president to direct where offices of Registrars of Marriages shall be, as the president might have divided the nation into marriage districts.”
Temilade explained that as an institute which is limited by guarantee and non – profit making, its duty is to educate and give proactive advice to both public and private institutions handling marriage matters in Nigeria.
He also lauded the chairman of the Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, Barrister M. Sani Bawa for taking the giant stride at ensuring full participation of the approved candidates from all the local government areas of the state.
Also, speaking, the FCT Area Service Commission, Hon. Saidu Ramat Isah lauded the Institute on the contents of the workshop, while the Chairman Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Aderemi Adedeji advised the participants who are Registrars of Marriages to be sensitive to documents intending couples to bring to them to avoid operating against the Marriage Act.
Chairman of the Association of Chairmen of Local Government Service Commission of Nigeria, Hon. Nwata Chukwuemeka in his contribution said marriage remains the bedrock of the nation, saying all issues relating to its stability must be taken with the seriousness it deserves.
He added that their association will do everything humanly possible to advance the cause of the sanctity of marriage and encouraged the Institute not to rest on their oars on the mandate of educating Nigerians.
