Part III — Bye-Law No. 2 of 2016

Registration of Marriages, Births & Deaths

Mandatory registration provisions for all marriages, births, and deaths within Bwari Area Council

Registration of Marriages, Births and Deaths Bye-Law 2016

Part III — Bye-Law No. 2 of 2016

This Bye-law may be cited as the Registration of Marriages, Births, and Deaths Bye-Law 2016 (as amended). In accordance with the provisions of Section 7 and the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other relevant sections of the Local Government Act, Laws of the FCT Abuja 2006 and other enabling laws, Bwari Area Council hereby promulgates the following Bye-Law.

Bye-Law No.No. 2 of 2016

PartPart III

CitationMarriages, Births and Deaths Bye-Law 2016

AuthorityBwari Area Council, FCT Abuja

Registration Zones

Sections 1–2 — Zones and Responsibilities

There shall be registration zones for marriages, births and deaths. The traditional chief, ward head or appointee within these zones shall be responsible for the collection of names of parents into whose families children are born or in whose families any death is recorded, and also names of newly married couples.

No party to a marriage shall be granted any relief sought in a court in relation to such marriage if he does not produce a Certificate of Registration of such marriage. A receipt for payment of registration fees shall be sufficient proof of registration.

Registrar of Marriages, Births and Deaths

Section 3 — Duties and Registers

There shall be a Registrar of Marriages, Births and Deaths whose duties shall include:

Enter into the register the name of any dead person.
Enter into the register the names of parents of a new-born baby and the name of such baby.
Enter into the register the names of newly married couples.
Collect such fees as the Area Council may prescribe from time to time.

The Registrar shall maintain separate registers called the Registers of Deaths, Births, and Marriages respectively.

Offences and Penalties

Sections 4–5 — Offences and Consequences

Concealment Offence: Any person who conceals or takes any step to conceal information relating to the birth, death or marriage of any person from a chief or any appointee of the Area Council shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction shall be liable to 14 days imprisonment.

Failure to Register: Any person who fails, neglects or refuses to register any birth, death or marriage shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction be liable to pay a fine of ₦5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) or imprisonment for three months.

Interpretation

Definitions of Key Terms

"Birth" means bringing forth a child dead or alive from the uterus of a woman by natural means, with the aid of a Medical Doctor by means of a Caesarian operation, or in any manner howsoever.

"Court" means a Revenue Mobile Court.

"Death" means termination of life by any cause.

"Medical Officer" means any staff of a health centre who has the duty of treating patients.

"Married Couples" means parties to a customary or Islamic law marriage or any other kind of marriage other than statutory marriage.

"Registrar" means a person appointed as such by the Area Council to keep the register of marriages, deaths and births.

"Traditional Chief" means a traditional head of a village, ward, community or town whether or not he enjoys salaries.

"Ward Chief" means any person that is the leader of any ward or group.

First Schedule — Register Pages

Format of the Registers of Marriages, Births, and Deaths

Register of Marriages

S/No	Names of Parties	Residential Address	Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Marriage Type	Date & Place Contracted
— Entries recorded by the Registrar —

Register of Births

S/No	Names of Parents	Residential Address	Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Sex of Child
— Entries recorded by the Registrar —

Register of Deaths

S/No	Name of Deceased	Address	Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Sex	Date of Death	Likely Cause
— Entries recorded by the Registrar —

Second Schedule — Who May Register

Authorised Persons for Each Event Type

Marriage

Any one of the couple

Birth

Any one of the parents

Death

Any of the next of kin of deceased

Duly passed by the Bwari Area Council Legislative Arm.

Other Bye-Laws

PreliminaryPart I

Enabling LawPart II — Bye-Law No. 1

Motor ParksPart IV — Bye-Law No. 3

Environmental SanitationPart V — Bye-Law No. 4