Anambra State House of Assembly has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the commissioner for Local Government, Chiftaincy and Community Affairs to cause the department of town unions to task religious and other community leaders to create awareness of this law and to commence immediate and strict complience with the law to control burial/funeral ceremonies in Anambra State.
Hon. Anthony Muobike, member representing Aguata two constituence while moving the motion said the practice of exhibition of affluence through excessive spending on food, dances, pall bearers, brochures, gift items and multiple days of funeral / burial rites has become tradition in almost all communities and towns in Anambra state,
“Anambra state house of assembly law No ANHA/LAW/2019/04 provides for a law to control burial/funeral ceremonial activities in Anambra State
“The provision of section 30 of this law states that ‘The Department of Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters in the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Aftairs’ shall by this law be empowered to liaise with the town Union of each town in the state to ensure the enforcement of this law
“Religious and community leaders play immense role in funeral/burial matters in the state and their ability to create enduring awareness of this law is important.
“The enactment of this law was necessitated by the wasteful and negative practices associated with funeral and burial rites in communities and towns in Anambra State but it is worst now.
“There is currently minimal level of awareness and limited compliance with this very important law in Anambra state.
“Further delay in the full implementation of this law will lead to greater and dangerous degeneration into wasteful, negative and gender sensitive practices by bereaved families with respect to burial / funeral rites of deceased persons in Anambra state,
“The Department of Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters in the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs has the requisite capacity to enforce the above law.
“Hon. Charles Ezeani in 2019 sponsored the law and was passed by Anambra 6th assembly but it is not been implemented. People over spent their capacity and it is becoming a tradition in Anambra state.
“During funaral ceremonies, People block roads without permits, which affects movements. The things that necesitated the passed of this law, are still happening in Anambra state till today.
“Burial and funeral ceremonies are still expensive in Anambra state. It is even worst today. Families go into abject poverty just because they biried loved ones.
” Gender sensitive practices where widows are forced to mourn loved ones beyond six months still continues.
” Community and religious leaders must be involved in commencing a strict implementation of this law”. Muobike submitted.
Speaking in support of the motion, Deputy Speaker Pius Okoye, Hon Ebuka Igwe, Hon Anayo Okpaleke, Chief Whip. Hon. Jude Ngobili, Hon. Ogbuefi Nkechi, Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, Hon. Chuks Azotani, Majority Leader. Hon Ikenna ofodeme and Hon. Fred Ezenwa called for immediate complience
“Considering the economic situation of the country, this motion is timely. There have to be a paradigm shift from the extra vargent display of wealth. We must restrict ourselves.
” Planning extravegent finurals causes truma. Some people sale their land, collect loans before the bury their loved ones.
” We the honourable members are all guilty of this. We need to creat awearness. We cannot be lawmakers and lawbreakers. We must practice what we preach.
“This is a call for all of us as lawmakers to rise up by leading with example. When we loss our loved one, have we kept this law that is in-place for years now?
“Let us (Lawmakers) not only call on those to inplement it to commence action, we must start from ourselfs. We shall be advocate of implementation of this law.
