By Tony Adibe
The Urban Radio 94.5 FM, Enugu, has recanted and apologised for the statement by its presenter, Favour Ekoh, which claimed that the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service had imposed a N40,000 (Forty thousand naira) daily mortuary tax on the people, saying it was a “weird” oversight on their part.
NewsBits recalls that the social media was agog at the weekend, as the 2004 law, which imposed N40 (forty naira) fine as part of the steps to curtail the practice of leaving dead bodies for too long in the mortuary to prepare for mega funerals, was made to appear as a 2024 order by the Governor Peter Mbah Administration, with bereaved families now to pay N40,000 as against N40 daily as provided for in 2004 legislation.
One of such misinformation by Favour Ekoh on Urban FM, Enugu was publicised by Instablog, an X (formerly Twitter) handle with over 4.8 million followers, thus causing uproar on the social media and agitation among many Enugu residents.
“So, the dead, they are not exempted from multiple taxation. So, you are alive, you are taxed. You are dead, you are taxed. So, basically, the Enugu State Government says, if you have loved ones, who die, if they are not buried within 24 hours, you are paying the sum of Forty Thousand Naira (N40,000) and that amount continues to count on a daily basis until you come and carry your corpse. On the day you come to carry your corpse, they will calculate the demurrage, and you will pay before you pick your loved one, who is dead. So, this is the latest development in Enugu State. I do not know if by this the people will now be made to bury their loved ones as soon as they die. But how much more can the people take? How much more? I do not really know,” she said.
However, retracting the misinformation, Ekoh said, “On Saturday, on Primetime Press, I had an oversight on my part where I mixed up figures when I read the press statement by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service on the notice of implementation of mortuary tax.
“The figure there is actually N40 (forty naira per day), but for some weird reasons, I had mentioned N40,000, which was not deliberate. So, this is me apologising to Enugu State Internal Revenue Service.
“I understand that, that caused an uproar. It was not intentional at all. I did not intend to create tensions in any way. So, my apologies to the Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Nnamani Ekene, and the entire media team of the state government.
“Even though it was corrected on subsequent programmes, but be that as it may, that should not have happened in the first place. Kindly disregard the N40,000 you had heard on Primetime Press on Saturday. It was a mistake on my part. I apologise,” she stated.
Meanwhile, recall that denouncing the misrepresentation earlier in the week, the Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service had explained that his 2023 memo was doctored to read September 17, 2024, adding that it was actually intended to save bereaved families from the exploitation of unscrupulous mortuary proprietors and agents, who charge way higher than N40 stipulated in the 2004 law.
He also explained that the 2004 law was not meant to generate revenue for the government, but intended to encourage bereaved families to bury their dead early to decongest the mortuaries.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the N40 (Forty Naira) daily imposed by Births, Deaths, and Burials Law Cap 15 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004 was part of the effort of that administration to tackle the unhealthy habit by bereaved families to congest the morgues with their dead for many months, and even years in some instances.
“Several states and Christian denominations in the southern part of the country have also taken steps in their own ways to curb this practice and burial expenses.
“Unfortunately, the said N40 (Forty Naira) per night, which comes to N1,200 a month has been jerked up by unscrupulous mortuary owners and agents who charge bereaved families arbitrary and indiscriminate fees/taxes, which they do not even remit to government. Therefore, the Board found it necessary to reiterate that the amount remains N40 (Forty Naira daily) as provided by the 2004 Law.
“For emphasis, although the value of N40 (Forty Naira) was much higher when the law was made in 2004, the government has not deemed it necessary to raise it. The government is more interested in persuading Ndi Enugu to bury their dead ones early and take their time to prepare for the funeral instead of leaving them in the morgues.
“The Board, therefore, urges the public to ignore the fake news in circulation and also report any hospital or mortuary charging anything beyond N40 (Forty Naira) per day to law enforcement agencies or the Board of Internal Revenue,” Nnamani explained.
