A Lawmaker in the Imo State House of Assembly, Kenneth Ibeh, is sponsoring a bill to reduce the expenses of traditional marriage in the state to not more than N180,000.
The lawmaker representing Obowo Constituency in the state, said the bill had become necessary as many young women in the state are unmarried due to the expensive cost of marriage and the bride price.
While presenting the bill for a second reading during Wednesday’s plenary, Ibeh said that outrageous marriage cost has scared many suitors away.
“Imo women are not getting married due to the high cost of marriage and bride price.
“A suitor coming to pay for a lady’s dowry may find it taxing to settle for the English wedding which again demands more expenses.
“It is quite unfortunate that this practice has caused so many of our marriageable ladies to remain single and men apprehensive of taking the bold step. This is wrong and we must discourage it at all cost,” he said.
Part of the provisions of the bill is that once a suitor pays and completes the bride price of a woman, a clearance certificate should be issued to the groom by the father of the bride, who will present the certificate to the traditional ruler of the community.
This would then be presented for the final issuance of Customary Marriage Certificate at a cost not exceeding N1000.
It adds that no customary marriage in the state, including the final stage of the Igbankwu ceremony, shall exceed the sum of N180,000, and that the bride price should not exceed N80,000.
