The Enugu State Government has implemented a daily tax on corpses left in mortuaries beyond 24 hours, aimed at discouraging the extended storage of deceased individuals.
According to a circular issued by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), mortuary owners are required to collect a fee of ₦40 per corpse per day after the first 24 hours.
The circular, which has been circulating online, referenced the Birth, Deaths, and Burials Law (Cap 15 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004) as the legal basis for the new measure.
Mortuary attendants are instructed to ensure that payments are made before the release of any corpse for burial, with the funds being remitted to the Enugu State IGR account.
Addressing public concerns, the Executive Chairman of ESIRS, Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, clarified that the tax is not intended to generate revenue but to encourage timely burials.
He emphasized that the tax, which has existed for years, was misrepresented on social media, with claims of a ₦40,000 fee being incorrect. Nnamani reiterated that the fee is only ₦40 per day and is paid by mortuary operators, not the deceased’s families.
Nnamani explained that even if a corpse remains in a mortuary for 100 days, the total charge would only amount to ₦4,000. He assured the public that no one has been denied the right to bury their loved ones due to the tax.
