The Nigerian government has introduced a new Federal Marriage Certificate for all types of marriages in the country.
The
permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah,
disclosed this on Wednesday at a stakeholders conference on the conduct
of statutory marriage in Abuja.
She said existing couples who do
not have their certificate issued by the Ministry of Interior are
advised to visit the ministry’s website to re-certify their marriage
certificates.
According to Mrs Ehuriah, not all places of worship
are permitted to conduct marriages. She advised Nigerians to ensure
that their marriages are conducted in places licensed by the Ministry of
Interior.
“This is for the marriage to be credible and registered in the National database of legally certified marriages,” she said.
“If
the certificate is not printed and delivered by the principal registrar
of marriages, then it is illegal and can not serve the desired
purpose”, she said.
“Arrangements are ongoing for couples whose
certificates were not issued in line with the Marriage Act of
opportunity to bring them to conformity.”
Speaking on the
benefits of the certificate, Mrs Ehuriah said it will be recognised by
all foreign embassies during visa application.
She advised the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accept the certificate for the guidance
of foreign embassies in Nigeria and Nigerian missions aboard.
Ms
Ehuriah said conducting marriages by places of worship not duly licensed
by the ministry will be considered a breach of the Marriage Act.
“Presently,
only about 4,689 licensed places of worship in Nigeria have updated
their records with the Ministry of Interior; 314 have renewed their
licenses to conduct statutory marriages,” she said.
She said the ministry is building a database for all statutory marriages conducted in Nigeria.
“It has also developed a database for all places of worship licensed for celebration of marriages ”
This
will enable the ministry to be in a good position to respond to
enquiries from various interested parties from within and outside
Nigeria, Mrs Ehuriah said.
She said documentation process for
the licensing of places of worship has been automated to facilitate
submission of application for licenses by interested places of worship.
“Administrators of places of worship are encouraged to meet the requirements to satisfy their members.”
She
said government at all levels has the responsibility of ensuring the
sanctity of marriage by supporting any initiative aimed at promoting
compliance with the Act.
The director, citizenship and business
at the ministry, Stephen Okon, said it is important to educate the
public on the key requirements of the Marriage Act.
“Sometimes citizens are denied their rights because of the manner their certificates of marriage was documented”, he said
He
said Nigerians do not conduct statutory marriage even after traditional
and church marriage “despite the growing popularity of Registry
marriage”.