In a move to streamline marriage certifications, the Edo State Government has announced its intention to compile and distribute a list of officially sanctioned places of worship permitted to conduct marriages.
This list will be shared with various embassies to ensure that only certificates issued by licensed institutions are recognized internationally.
During a collaborative session with representatives of the Muslim community, the State Commissioner for Youth and Gender Issues, Hon. Andrew Adaze Emwanta Esq. JP, revealed the Ministry’s strategy. He emphasized the importance of licensing for any religious establishment issuing marriage certificates.
Hon. Emwanta also highlighted the necessity for individuals planning to travel abroad to secure their marriage certificates from recognized and licensed places of worship. He indicated that the government would soon notify embassies to disregard certificates from unlicensed churches and mosques, reinforcing the commitment to uphold the integrity of marriage certifications.
The Commissioner stated, “We will forward the list of all the authorized houses of worship that perform marriages and provide marriage certificates to the embassies. Religious organizations that authorize marriages should be licensed.
“Even though the marriage was not performed there, it becomes a celebration of marriage when a Mosque or Church gives the certificate.
“You will concur with me that, for quite obvious reasons, the state’s revenue has decreased significantly as a result of the oil spill and the global economic crisis; Nigeria is not an exception given the impact of COVID-19. We are also not receiving the same level of funding as we once did.
“Edo State should therefore begin looking inward to those areas where government can generate revenue in light of all of these factors and many more. Instead of raising taxes, consider underutilized current channels.
“Following a meeting with the various departments, I discovered that many Muslims and members of the Christian denomination had not received license renewal payments since I was appointed Commissioner.
“However, they perform marriages every year. We discovered that the statute book states that we, as a Ministry, are permitted by law to license places of worship that perform marriages. The license fee is N50,500.00, and the annual renewal fee is N15, 000.00.
“The law on a place of worship is quite explicit. This location is used to celebrate marriages or to issue marriage certificates. Having a licensed place of worship has the advantage of preventing future challenges to the validity of the marriage, which could lead someone to argue that the marriage is invalid.
He clarified that a mosque or church that issues a certificate transforms into a place of worship that honors marriage at that very moment. He also said that in order for the certificate to be deemed valid, the license must be issued by the government, which provides the certificate’s legal foundation.
The Commissioner announced the creation of a joint committee that will oversee compliance and give a broad picture of the state’s mosques, even as he praised the Muslim community for its cooperation with the government.
Alhaji Abdul-Fatai Enabulele, the Chief Imam of the Benin Central Mosque, pledged that all mosques in Edo State would be registered to assist the government in raising money for the state’s development.
He stated, “To ensure compliance with the state’s mosque registration requirements, a meeting of the Imam Leagues will be sent to spread the word throughout the state.”
“We will assist the government by making sure that individuals who have not registered yet do so and that those who have should pay their yearly renewal fee.
Imam (Dr.) Suleman Ikhuoriah of the Esan Community, Imam Anelu Oamen of the Afemai Community, Imam Raji Taofeeq of the Yoruba Community, and Imam Abdulahi of the Hausa Community accompanied the Chief Imam to the interactive meeting.
