The Enugu State Government has dismissed reports that it increased mortuary taxes to N40,000 per day, describing the news as misleading and false. It clarified that the official fee remains N40 per night for unclaimed bodies, as outlined in Section 34 of the Births, Deaths, and Burials Law, Cap 15 of the Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004.
The government issued this clarification following misleading reports from bloggers and unprofessional media outlets that wrongly suggested the fee had been increased. In response, the government emphasised that the 2023 memo, which some individuals manipulated to appear dated 17th September 2024, was intended to curb exploitation by mortuary owners and agents. The real objective of the memo was to protect bereaved families from excessive fees that some hospitals and tax agents impose, far beyond the legally stipulated N40 per night.
The clarification was made in a statement by Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, Chairman of the Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue.
Government’s Stance on the Law
Nnamani explained that the N40 daily fee, implemented by the 2004 law, was meant to discourage families from leaving deceased relatives in mortuaries for extended periods. He noted that, in some cases, bodies are stored for months or even years, leading to overcrowding in morgues.
“The N40 fee per night, which amounts to N1,200 per month, was introduced to curb the practice of keeping bodies in morgues for too long,” Nnamani said. “Unfortunately, unscrupulous mortuary operators have taken advantage of the situation, imposing arbitrary and excessive fees that are not remitted to the government.”
The statement added that Enugu is not alone in tackling this issue, as other states in southern Nigeria have also introduced similar measures to reduce prolonged storage and burial costs.
Protecting Families from Exploitation
According to Nnamani, the purpose of the government’s intervention is to encourage families to bury their loved ones promptly. This way, they can plan larger funeral ceremonies at a more convenient time, rather than leaving bodies in the morgues for extended periods.
While acknowledging that the value of N40 has decreased since the law was first enacted in 2004, Nnamani stressed that the government has not raised the fee to ensure it does not burden citizens. Instead, the focus is on preventing mortuary owners from taking advantage of grieving families.
“Some mortuary owners charge bereaved families exorbitant fees, which is illegal and against the spirit of the original law. We encourage the public to report any hospital or mortuary demanding fees above the N40 per night rate to law enforcement or the Board of Internal Revenue,” Nnamani added.
Call to Ignore False Information
The government urged the public to disregard the fake news circulating about a supposed N40,000 daily mortuary tax. It reassured citizens that no such increase has been implemented, and any reports suggesting otherwise are false attempts to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the government.
The Enugu State Government remains committed to supporting its citizens and ensuring that mortuary services are accessible and fairly priced. Families are encouraged to report any instances of overcharging to the appropriate authorities.
“We want to remind Ndi Enugu that the N40 per day rate remains unchanged and that the government is more interested in encouraging early burials rather than profiting from the dead,” Nnamani concluded.
This announcement highlights the state’s commitment to curbing exploitation while ensuring the law is properly followed. Families facing unjust charges are encouraged to report such cases, helping the government enforce fairness and prevent abuse.