Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has signed the state’s Cremation Bill into law.
While signing the bill on Monday at
Lagos House, Ikeja, the governor explained that cremation was voluntary,
adding that its enactment showed how the concept of globalisation had
taken root in the state.
Fashola said, “We commend members of the
state House of Assembly for responding to global yearnings. Their zeal
in passing the bill also shows that cremation is the best way to go.”
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the law only provided for voluntary cremation.
He said, “It is voluntary in the sense
that it allows for voluntary cremation, whereby a person may signify
interest to be cremated when he dies or a deceased’s family members who
must attain the age of 18 years can decide to have the corpse cremated.
“The law also makes it legal for the government to cremate unclaimed corpses in its mortuaries after a period of time.”
Ipaye warned that if relative of any
corpse failed to show up to collect the ashes after a 14-day notice, it
would be disposed of by the state government subject to the consent and
approval of the Commissioner for Health.
He said, “Section two stipulates that no
cremation may take place except in a crematorium established by the
Ministry of Health or by any other body upon the recommendation of the
authority and approval by the Commissioner for Health.
“Section six of the law stipulates the
guidelines on getting permission to cremate and lists those who could
apply for permission to cremate to include a child or children of the
deceased; a close relative of the deceased; an undertaker and an
agent/legal representative.
“Section 10 of the law states that the
cremator in charge of a crematorium must not dispose of the ashes
remaining after a cremation except in accordance with any reasonable
written instructions of the applicant.”
The governor also signed the laws
establishing Ibile Oil and Gas Company and the one to regulate the
Christian and Muslim pilgrims’ welfare board.
He explained that though
the state had laws enacted in the 80s to regulate the activities of both
Christian and Muslim boards, the government decided to harmonise the
amendments to the laws since then to make them uniform and effective.PUNCH
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