Ohanaeze Ndigbo, ex-LG chair, residents differ on Anambra burial bill

Reactions have continued to trail the Burial Bill recently passed by members of the Anambra State House of Assembly. The Bill, according to Saturday Telegraph investigation, has among others outlawed posters and banners use during the conduct of any burial function. It is expected that if the Bill is voted for by the House of Assembly and after 30 days anybody who violates the law would be imprisoned for six months or fined N100,000 or both.

The Bill reads in parts: “No person should erect any billboard, banner or posters of any kind of deceased persons in the State. A N100,000 fine or six months jail term or both for violation. “Persons are allowed to erect only directional post, such as the ones leading to the venue should erected before seven days to the burial date and must be removed not later than seven days after the burial date. N100,000 fine or six months jail term or both for violation.

“Corpse deposit in the mortuary or any other place beyond two months from the date of death will attract N100,000 fine or six months jail term or both for violation. “No blocking of road/street because of burial except with the approval of the appropriate local government authority.

“No public display of casket for purposes of fabrication and sale. A N50,000 fine or one month jail term or both for violation. Deceased family must clear outstanding levies owed to the community or religious body before the funeral ceremony.

“There should not be Wake of any kind for any deceased person in the state. All vigil Mass, service of songs or religious activity for the deceased person prior to the burial should end by 9pm. “There should be no food, drink, life band or cultural entertainers during and after vigil Mass, service of songs or religious activity for the deceased person.

All burial/funeral ceremonies for any deceased person in the state must be for one day.” Continuing, the bill seeks to ensure that: “All burial Mass/services must start not later than 9:00 am and must not last more than two hours.

No preserved corpse must be exposed for more than 30 minutes from the time of exposition. “It could be kept in a room under lock and key. All condolence visits after any burial/funeral ceremony must not exceed one day.

During a condolence visit, no person must give to the deceased person’s family, as a condolence gift, any item exceeding money, one jar of palm wine, one carton of beer and one crate of soft drink. “No deceased person’s family must give out any souvenir during burial/funeral ceremony. For Ibuna Ozu Nwa Ada, there must be no demand of more than N10,000 by the maiden family of the deceased woman. Undertakers at any burial ceremony must not exceed sixx in number.

“There must be no dancing with the casket by the undertakers. Wearing of special uniform/aso ebi is restricted to the immediate family of the deceased person, Church groups, Umunna, Umu ada and Iyom di, where applicable. Provision of food/ drinks is ‘not’ compulsory. “It is at the discretion of the bereaved family. No burial on any local market day of the town. For Nimo, no burial on Oye market day. Umuada of the deceased person’s family must stay only on the day of the Wake and the burial/funeral. (New Telegraph)