The Anambra State House of Assembly has dismissed widespread reports alleging that a new burial law has been introduced in the state to ban certain funeral practices and condolence gifts.
The clarification followed viral social media posts and media reports claiming that the Anambra State Government had enacted fresh regulations restricting funerals to Saturdays, prohibiting the presentation of cows and goats as condolence gifts, and banning cultural practices such as dancing with caskets during burials.
State officials, however, described the reports as false, misleading, and a distortion of the facts surrounding the already existing burial regulatory framework in the state.
According to an official statement issued by the House of Assembly under the leadership of Somtochukwu Nkem Udeze, no new burial law has been introduced or passed by the current 8th Assembly.
The Assembly explained that the law being referenced by several media platforms was originally enacted in 2019, years before the inauguration of the current lawmakers. The existing law was designed to reduce excessive spending during burials, discourage prolonged mortuary stays, and maintain public order during funeral ceremonies.
Officials stressed that the current Assembly has neither amended nor introduced any legislation targeting the presentation of cows, goats, or other condolence items at burial ceremonies.
The statement further criticized reports suggesting otherwise, describing them as sensational and professionally irresponsible. Lawmakers accused some media outlets of creating controversy and public outrage through inaccurate headlines aimed at generating traffic online.
The controversy gained renewed attention after Charles Soludo recently reiterated his administration’s commitment to enforcing the 2019 burial law more strictly. Governor Soludo maintained that regulating extravagant funeral ceremonies would help improve productivity, reduce unnecessary financial pressure on families, and encourage cultural moderation.
While some residents praised the government’s stance for promoting discipline and preserving core Igbo values, others expressed concerns over perceived interference in long-standing cultural traditions, especially practices involving elaborate condolence gifts and funeral celebrations.
In its response, the House of Assembly urged Ndi Anambra and the general public to disregard false narratives circulating online and rely only on verified information from official government communication channels.
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The Assembly also reaffirmed its commitment to transparent, people-focused legislation and pledged to continue engaging citizens openly on matters concerning laws and governance in the state.
