The Enugu State Government has clarified the controversial mortuary tax, stating that it is the responsibility of the deceased’s family to pay the tax, not the mortuary owners. The tax, which has stirred public debate, is intended to discourage the excessive storage of corpses in mortuaries and is not meant as a revenue-generating measure, the government has emphasized.
According to a circular issued by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), a daily tax of N40 will be charged to families if a corpse is not buried within 24 hours. The tax accrues daily until the body is released for burial, and payment must be made before the body is collected. The fees are to be remitted to the state’s IGR Account in any commercial bank.
Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, Executive Chairman of ESIRS, addressed the confusion surrounding the tax on Saturday. He explained that the tax is not new and has been in effect for years, and it is the family of the deceased who is responsible for making the payment, not the mortuary itself. “It is not the mortuary owners who pay the tax, but the family of the deceased,” Nnamani clarified. “The N40 daily tax applies to the family, and not the mortuary. If the corpse stays in the mortuary for 100 days, the family would be expected to pay N4,000.”
Nnamani also stressed that the tax is not intended to generate revenue for the state but to encourage timely burials and reduce the long-term storage of bodies in mortuaries. “The goal is to discourage people from keeping their loved ones in the mortuary indefinitely,” he said. “This is not about financial burdening but ensuring that burials are conducted promptly.”
Despite the clarification, concerns remain among residents about the financial strain this tax might place on grieving families.
