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Taxing The Dead: Enugu State Government Faces Backlash For Imposing Mortuary Tax On Corpses
According to Nwoye, the tax amounts to N40 per day for each body, which he believes is not only insensitive but also inhumane.
Dr. Ben Nwoye, former chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State, has expressed his dismay over the state’s decision to tax dead bodies kept in mortuaries.
According to Nwoye, the tax amounts to N40 per day for each body, which he believes is not only insensitive but also inhumane.
Nwoye shared his personal experience of having to pay the tax when his mother-in-law passed away. “I didn’t understand it before until I had to pay N40 per day,” he said. “It’s not the amount that matters, but the concept. The idea that someone would think of taxing the bereaved as a means of raising funds is callous and inhumane.”
Nwoye, who spoke to SaharaReporters in an interview, questioned the logic behind taxing the dead when the living are still struggling to pay their taxes. “Have we finished taxing the living before we go into the dead?” he asked. “The living should pay their tax, those selling things they’re making money, you must have your tax paper, traders pay your income tax.”
The former APC chairman believes that the tax is insensitive and lacks a human face. “When you govern, you govern with a human face,” he said. “And I think that one lacks insensibility. It is insensitive, even if it is one kobo the tax.”
Nwoye emphasised that the tax is not just a financial burden but also an emotional one. “As Igbo, there is a way we relate with our dead, and if I’m told that for me to keep my deceased person for one day I have to pay N40, it gets to me,” he said.
He also pointed out that the mortuary attendants already pay taxes to the state and federal government. “The mortuary people are mortuary attendants, they also have to pay the state tax, they have to pay the federal tax,” Nwoye said. “Now we are taxing the bereaved.”
Nwoye believes that the state government should focus on taxing the living rather than the dead. “We raise funds by directly taxing the bereaved for keeping the body of their deceased loved ones?” he asked. “Then you pay N40. I don’t think it’s right.”
He, however, called on the state government to review and reconsider the tax. “So, it’s something they have to go back and review and look at it,” he said.
Nwoye also questioned the calculation behind the tax. “Someone must have made an attempt in doing calculation of how many bodies that are left, how many deaths we have per year,” he said. “Because you have to budget for this.”
He believes that the tax is a sign of insensitivity and lack of empathy. “It has to be in paper, the estimate that maybe 200 people or 1000 people will die this month and will be kept in the morgue, you have to write,” Nwoye said.
Nwoye emphasised that the tax is not acceptable in Igbo culture. “From our own concept, cultural concept, it is not acceptable,” he said. “Certain things don’t belong in this culture when you govern, you govern with a human face.”
He urged the state government to prioritise the welfare of its citizens over revenue generation. “I think the government should focus on providing essential services to the people rather than taxing the dead,” Nwoye said.
Nwoye’s statement has sparked a debate about the morality and feasibility of taxing dead bodies in Enugu State. Many are calling on the state government to reconsider the tax and prioritize the welfare of its citizens.
The state government has yet to respond to Nwoye’s statement, but the issue is likely to generate more controversy in the coming days.
The Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform the general public of the planned resumption of the enforcement of Tinted Glass Permit policy pending the final determination of the matter currently before the court. This decision follows a careful review of emerging security concerns and the need to ensure the safety of all citizens.
It is important to clarify that at no point did the court restrain the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing the provisions of the law regarding the use of tinted glass on vehicles. Nonetheless, in the spirit of responsibility, transparency, and public convenience, the Force suspended enforcement to allow motorists ample opportunity to regularise their documentation and complete the registration process without pressure.
Recent trends, however, reveal a disturbing rise in criminal activities perpetrated with the aid of vehicles fitted with unauthorised tinted glass. Some individuals and organised criminal groups have exploited this gap to conceal their identities and facilitate crimes ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping and other violent crimes. In view of this, the Nigeria Police Force has found it both necessary and urgent to resume full enforcement as a proactive measure to safeguard our communities. Consequently, enforcement of Tinted Glass Permit will resume on 2nd January, 2026.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, assures the public that the renewed enforcement will be carried out with utmost professionalism, respect for the rights of citizens, and in accordance with extant laws. He adds that the Force remains committed to promoting public safety and upholding the rule of law while working collaboratively with all stakeholders to keep Nigeria secure.
Meanwhile, motorists who require the Tinted Glass Permit are encouraged to apply through the approved channels and ensure that their vehicles comply with legal procedures.
CSP FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.
15th December, 2025
News
Bianca Ojukwu’s Daughter Joins Her Mother at the ECOWAS Council of Ministers Session in South Africa
Following a recent post by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, on her official Instagram account on Monday, 15th December, 2025, the minister shared a noteworthy moment from the ECOWAS 95th Session of the Council of Ministers held in South Africa.
In the post, Ambassador Ojukwu revealed that her daughter, Chi, who works with UN Tourism, accompanied her to the high-level regional meeting to gain firsthand insight into the demands of diplomatic service. According to the minister, the experience offered her daughter a clearer understanding of the intensity and dedication required in her role as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
She explained that the council’s deliberations often stretched late into the night, sometimes well past midnight, with long hours spent in the conference hall and sustained by endless cups of tea. The demanding schedule, she noted, was far more intense than her daughter had anticipated
The post has since drawn reactions from followers, many of whom praised Ambassador Ojukwu for mentoring the next generation through exposure to international diplomacy and commended her commitment to regional cooperation and public service within ECOWAS.
News
Late Ambassador Demola Seriki’s last wife accuses family of denying her and their children access to his graveside
All appears not to be well with the family former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Late Demola Seriki, left behind. The Lagos politician and former minister passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2022, in Madrid, Spain at the age of 63 leaving behind three wives and his children.
Today marked three years since he passed away.
His last wife, Princess Sholape and her children had visited his graveside to pray for the repose of his soul. Sholape in a video she shared online this evening, said she and her kids were denied access into the vault to offer their prayers for the repose of his soul. According to her, a certain Biola has refused to grant herself and her kids access to the graveside and has instructed that visitation to his grave must be done only by her approval.
Sholape shared a video of herself and her two children at the grave.
‘’The keys for the vault has been seized and we have been refused access to it. Today we speak up and we will get on with things. It’s okay. It doesn’t stop up. We have done our prayers’’
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSS3dopDVBM/?igsh=ZDQ1ZTJsYXlobTU3
NIGERIA POLICE FORCE ANNOUNCES RESUMPTION OF ENFORCEMENT OF TINTED GLASS PERMIT
Bianca Ojukwu’s Daughter Joins Her Mother at the ECOWAS Council of Ministers Session in South Africa
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