The House of Assembly in Anambra has passed a bill seeking to curtail burial and funeral expenses and rites in Anambra State.
The Bill which was sponsored by the member representing Anaocha 11 constituency, Hon Charles Ezeani, was passed after due consideration by the House during Wednesday’s plenary.
The burial and funeral expenses had been on the rise in the state, which forced the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor to raise the alarm a few years ago.
The Cleric said if not curtailed, people in the state would go hungry after such burial ceremonies, while also advocated for a one-day burial instead of three and four days being practised in Anambra.
The bill also made it clear that from the commencement of the law, no person shall subject any relation of the deceased person to a mourning period of more than one week from the date of the burial ceremony.
While explaining further, the sponsor of the bill , Charles Ezeani, maintained that the bill also made provision for a monitoring and implementation committee that would enforce the law as well as their responsibilities.
He described the bill as important and a great achievement by the 6th Anambra Assembly, adding that the bill had put to rest the high cost of burial and funeral activities in the state.
However, the speaker, Hon Rita Maduagwu commended the lawmakers for passing the bill.
According to her, it would moderate burial expenses in the state.
A very welcome development, I wish other states will emulate this and let’s all do things to moderation. A befitting burial is good but should be done in moderation so the living won’t have to starve because of senseless spending. Mourning period of one week is also good and one day burial is very reasonable. Let’s all rest from all these babaric practice biko
One week is too much.2 days enough.Spend money when the individual is alive and not go into debts to bury someone.Anambra should be emulated by other States.Long overdue.