Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has announced that the N10 million fine for defaulters of public burials in the state is to deter people from disobeying the directive by the government. He said it is not meant to punish anyone.
Wike made the revelatiom in a chat with religious leaders in the state yesterday, at Government House Port Harcourt.
He was reacting to the claims by stakeholders that the fee is outrageous and a ploy to enrich the government. He denied the claims stating that it is an economic policy not to enrich government but designed to enforce compliance with the directives.
Wike said the decision is inline with NCDC regulations on public burials in the country. He noted that if the fees were small, people would intentionally go against the directive and go ahead to pay the fine. He furthermore, urged residents to obey the directives of the government as the virus is real. Anyone found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with the laws, he warned.
