Federal Government slashes statutory marriage fees

*Fresh Marriage Licence for place of public worship reduced from N30,000 for 2 years to N6,000 yearly

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to the recommendation by stakeholders at the sensitisation conferences held across the country in the third quarter of 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a reduction in the fees payable for services related to the Statutory Marriage under the Marriage Act CAP M6 LFN 2004 with effect from Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

Mr. Mohammed Manga, Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, in a statement disclosed this in Abuja, FCT, Monday, June 29.

Manga stated that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Minister for Interior, made the disclosure in a Public Notice signed by Georgina Ehuriah, Permanent Secretary and Principal Registrar of Marriages in the country.

According to Ogbeni Aregbesola, the latest adjustment in the fees was an outcome of the recommendations made by stakeholders at the sensitisation conferences which took place across the country in Q3 2019.

He stated that the fees chargeable for the Issuance of Fresh Marriage Licence to a place of Public Worship have been reduced from N30,000 for two (2) years to N6,000 yearly, payable for five years in the first instance.

For the Renewal of Marriage Licence by a Place of Public Worship, the sum of N5,000 has been approved per year, payable for three (3) years at each instance, as against the N30,000 earlier charged annually.

The Minister said the fees chargeable for Statutory Ordinary Marriage had been reduced from initial N21,000 to N15,000, while that of Statutory Special Licence has been cut from N35,000 to N25,000.

A link has been created on the Ministry’s Web site: www.ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng to enable states and local governments to access the Ministry’s automation platform for services relating to the conduct of Statutory Marriage in the country, said Aregbesola.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to take advantage of the reduction in fees to licence their places of worship, and continue to celebrate statutory marriage in accordance with the extant law.