LG Councils’ revenue to dip further as FG takes over issuance of Marriage Certificate Booklets

The internally generated revenue opportunities of the 774 Local Government Councils in Nigeria, may dip further as a result


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LG Councils’ revenue to dip further as FG takes over issuance of Marriage Certificate Booklets


 

The internally generated revenue opportunities of the 774 Local Government Councils in Nigeria, may dip further as a result of the take-over of the printing and issuance of Marriage Certificate Booklets to licensed Places of Worship and Marriage Registries across the country, Fresh Angle International can report.

According to a statement issued by the Senior Information Officer, Towoju, Raphael B. on behalf of the Director of Press, Ministry of Interior, the amended Legal Notices has changed the dynamics of the administration and conduct of statutory marriages in Nigeria and has put to rest the lingering disagreement between the Ministry and the Local Government Registrars of Marriage, by designating the Local Government Areas and Area Development Councils of the Federal Capital Territory as Marriage Districts.

 

This Newspaper, understands that prior to the statement issued Friday May 7 by the Ministry of Interior, Local Government Councils in Nigeria, were generating revenue from the issuance of Marriage certificates to couples, who wed at the council secretariats and to public places of worship for the conduct of statutory marriages.

 

The amount collected for the issuance of marriage certificate, varied from one local government council to the other. While some councils collected N10,000.00, others levied between N15,000.00 and N25,000.00 per marriage certificate, hence enhancing their internally generated profile.

 

The announcement establishing additional twenty (20) new Federal Marriage Registries across the country, with the Federal Government now having, “the sole authority to issue the only valid and legally recognized Certificate of Marriage known as “FORM E”, would prevent local government councils from collecting levies for the issuance of marriage certificate, since: “The amended Legal Notices has changed the dynamics of the administration and conduct of statutory marriages in Nigeria and has put to rest the lingering disagreement between the Ministry and the Local Government Registrars of Marriage by designating the Local Government Areas and Area Development Councils of the Federal Capital Territory as Marriage Districts”.

 

The statement by the Ministry of Interior, listed some of the guidelines for the issuance of marriage certificate thus: “Local Government Councils that have recently been designated as Marriage Districts, may now nominate Officers as Local Government Registrars of Marriage and must procure Marriage Certificate Booklets from the Ministry of Interior; the nomination of Local Government Registrars of Marriage and the Deputies by the Local Government Authorities, should be endorsed and registered by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, who is the Principal Registrar of Marriages in Nigeria; the printing and issuance of Marriage Certificate Booklets to licensed Places of Worship and Marriage Registries is the sole responsibility of the Principal Registrar of Marriages.”

 

The statement explained: "The Marriage Act, which was originally enacted in 1914 by the British colonial masters, is the legislation that provides the procedures for the conduct of statutory marriages in Nigeria. It has been amended several times with the latest version being 2004.”

 

To actualize the new regime, the Ministry has created an Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation (EI&I) division, whose function is to ensure that Places of Worship and Marriage Registries, comply with the provisions of the Marriage Act.


Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104


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Hitler Preye Bela
She is the Confidential Secretary/Desktop Publisher of Fresh Angle International Newspaper. A Graduate of Computer Science, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State with over 7years experience in Desktop Publishing. She can be reached on 07033457898
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