The Enugu State Government has clarified the rationale behind its imposition of a tax on corpses in mortuaries across the state.
Contrary to assumptions that the tax is a revenue-generating measure, the Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, emphasized that the primary goal is to manage space and discourage prolonged storage of bodies.
According to Mr. Nnamani, the tax, which amounts to N40 per day, is an indirect levy paid by mortuary owners rather than the families of the deceased. He stated, "The tax is not meant to generate revenue but to discourage people from taking their dead ones to the mortuary all the time."
This policy is rooted in section 34 of the Births, Deaths, and Burials Law Cap 15 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004 and has been in place for several years.
The tax applies when a corpse is not buried within twenty-four hours, with the amount accruing daily. For instance, if a body remains in the mortuary for 100 days, the mortuary is expected to remit N4,000 to the state. Mr. Nnamani further clarified, "It is just N40, not N40,000," addressing any misconceptions about the tax amount.
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