Indiscriminate blocking of roads and streets during burial ceremonies was also prohibited, except in cases where permission has been obtained from the appropriate Local Government Authority.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The government of Anambra State has prohibited prolonged stay of corpses in mortuaries beyond two months of death, saying defaulters are liable to a fine of one hundred thousand naira, six months imprisonment or both.
This is just as it also banned the public display of caskets for fabrication and sale. Failure to comply with the law, it stated, will lead to a fine of N50,000, one month imprisonment or both.
The provisions are part of the Anambra Burial Law enacted by the Anambra State House of Assembly in a bid to control burial and funeral ceremonies in the state.
Governor of the state, Chukwuma Soludo, while commending the legislation, described it as “a very progressive law to remove the burden and pressure on the poor, as well as liberate women from oppressive practices during burials.”
He declared, “We celebrate “befitting living” and only a decent funeral.”
The law mandates all mortuary attendants to report any corpse which has stayed beyond one month from the date it was deposited to the Ministry of Health.
It also stated that all burial and funeral ceremonies of indigenous deceased persons in the state shall be registered with the town union of the deceased.
Indiscriminate blocking of roads and streets during burial ceremonies was also prohibited, except in cases where permission has been obtained from the appropriate Local Government Authority.