The Anambra State government through the state House of Assembly has denied claims that it has introduced new legislation regulating funeral rites.
There have been reports circulating on social media that the state has outlawed lavish burial parties and banned the presentation of items such as cows, goats, and other expensive gifts during condolence visits.
However, in a press statement issued on Monday, the Special Adviser to the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Franklin Osankwa, said the state House of Assembly did not pass any new burial law.
Osankwa insisted that no such bill was introduced, debated or passed by the current Assembly.
The statement read, “The attention of the Anambra State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze, has been drawn to a misleading publication making the rounds, claiming that Anambra State has introduced a ‘new burial law’ banning the presentation of cows, goats and other condolence gifts.
“For the record, this publication is false, misleading and a gross misrepresentation of facts.
“The eighth Anambra State House of Assembly did not pass any new burial law. No such bill was introduced, debated or passed by the current Assembly.
The existing burial regulatory framework being mischievously referenced by some media platforms was enacted into law in 2019, long before the inauguration of the present eighth Assembly.
“Since the inauguration of the current House, no amendment whatsoever has been made concerning the areas sensationally reported in the media.
“It is therefore irresponsible and professionally unethical to attribute a non-existent ‘new law’ to the present Assembly simply to generate traffic, controversy and public outrage.
“At a time when distorted headlines are becoming a serious threat to public trust and social stability, media organisations must understand that journalism is a sacred responsibility, not a tool for clickbait sensationalism.”
According to him, the Anambra State House of Assembly remains committed to transparent, people-oriented legislation and will continue to engage citizens openly on every law legitimately before the House.
“We urge Ndi Anambra and the general public to disregard the false narrative and rely only on verified legislative information from official government channels,” the statement added.
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