A former Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof. Pita Ejiofor , has hailed Anambra State legislators for passage a bill seeking to control spending before and during funerals.
Ejiofor made the commendation in an interview with DayBreak on Wednesday in Awka, describing it as a bold step in the right direction.
He said that the bill would go a long way to save Anambra people from unnecessary expenses in burying the dead.
Ejiofor, a one-time Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in the old Anambra State, said that the bill, if assented to by the governor and enforced well, would eliminate or reduce borrowing for burial.
He appealed to the governor to assent to the bill without delay and ensure that it would gain prominence.
Ejiofor told DayBreak that he made input into the bill during a public hearing on it.
The professor urged the lawmakers to also tackle wasteful spending during marriage ceremonies.
He commended the lawmaker, who initiated the bill, Mr Charles Ezeani (APGA – Anaocha II Constituency).
Ejiofor also praised the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Mrs Rita Maduagwu, for ensuring passage of the bill which, he said, would safeguard Igbo culture.
He advised Igbo people to channel more resources into ventures that would benefit the people and reduce unemployment.
DayBreak reports that the bill was passed after due consideration by the House during a plenary last Wednesday.
The bill provided that in the event of death, no person shall deposit any corpse in the mortuary or any place beyond two months from the date of the death.
It also provided that burial ceremonies in the state shall be for one day.
The bill equally places ban on destruction of property, gunshots, praise singing, blocking of roads and streets during burial ceremonies, adding that defaulters shall be punished.
The bill also provided that 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.
