FG To Inspect Religious Houses For Issuance Of Licence To Conduct Statutory Marriages

The Federal government has concluded a plan to commence inspection of religious worship centres for the issuance of Licences to conduct Statutory Marriages and renewal of existing marriages.

Naija News reports that the development is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, and Principal Registrar of Marriage in Nigeria, Dr Shuaib Belgore.

The move according to Belgore was in accordance with relevant laws of the country.

The statement also noted that the government will inspect other organisations for additional slots of Expatriate Quota facilities, Renewal of Expatriate Quota Positions.

The inspection exercise according to the statement issued through the Ministry’s spokesperson, Blessing Lere-Adams, will attract payment of fees that are mandatory for organizations and public places of worship that do apply for such services.

Naija News reports that the statement was titled, “Public Notice for Organisations and Public Places of Worship: Commencement of inspection for the grant and renewal of Expatriate Quota Facilities and Licensing/Renewal of Public Places of Worship for the conduct of Statutory Marriages (Marriage Act 2004; CAP.M6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004).”

It read partly: “The Ministry of Interior through its Citizenship and Business Department will henceforth be carrying out inspection exercise in organisations for the grant of additional slots of Expatriate Quota facilities, Renewal of Expatriate Quota positions as well as the inspection of places of worship for issuance of Licences to conduct statutory Marriages and renewal of existing Licences.

“This is pursuant to the Second Schedule of the Marriage Act, Cap 6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the approved Legal Notices vide Federal Government Official Gazette Nos. 55, 56, 59, 60, 61 & 62, Volume 108 of 2021.”