“If U kpai Urself Because Of hardship, U Go Still Pay Tax”- Enugu Government Don Cause Wahala Over Daily Tax for Dead Bodies Wey Dey Mortuary

“If U kpai Urself Because Of hardship, U Go Still Pay Tax”- Enugu Government Don Cause Wahala Over Daily Tax for Dead Bodies Wey Dey Mortuary Written By Oshiobugie John– The Enugu State government has reportedly introduced a daily tax on corpses kept in mortuaries, a move that has left many Nigerians both shocked and outraged. According to a circular issued by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), the new mortuary tax is designed not to generate revenue, but to discourage residents from storing their deceased loved ones in mortuaries for extended periods.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The tax, outlined under Section 34 of the Births, Deaths, and Burials Law (Cap. 15, Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004), imposes a daily fee of N40 on each corpse that is not buried within 24 hours. The circular also stated that families must settle this payment before retrieving the body for burial, with all funds remitted to the state’s IGR account.

Critics of the policy have voiced concerns, deeming it insensitive and exploitative, especially given the emotional and financial toll on grieving families. However, Emmanuel Nnamani, Executive Chairman of the ESIRS, clarified that the tax is not new and has been in place for years. He emphasized that the charge is directed at mortuary owners, not directly at families of the deceased.

“It is just N40, not N40,000. If a corpse remains in the mortuary for 100 days, the mortuary would be required to pay N4,000 to the state. The aim is to discourage the overuse of mortuaries, not to profit from people’s loss,” Nnamani explained. He further assured that no one has been denied the right to bury their loved ones due to the tax.

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