Posted by By Alloy Khenom on
The legislative arm of Tai local government council in Rivers State has continued its impressive deliberations, producing bills aimed at improving living standard in the area.
The legislative arm of Tai local government council in Rivers State has continued its impressive deliberations, producing bills aimed at improving living standard in the area.
At its last sitting on July 19, 2005, the 10-member house concluded deliberations on its latest bill (No.9) titled, "Native Marriage (regulation and other related matters)" and went ahead to set up a five-member committee to mobilize communities towards public hearing of the bill on a later date.
Headed by Hon. Julius Aminikpo Neeuee representing ward 5, the other members are Hon. Dum Saro Timothy (ward 8), Hon. Samuel Deenwa ward 10 and the only female member of the house, Hon. Keta Ndah representing ward 2.
Awaiting final adoption by the house as Byelaw, the bill was sponsored by Hon. Dornubari Mesua representing Ward 1 which comprises Saakpenwa, Botem and Gbene-ue communities.
Its highlights include matters over payment of bride price, divorce, restriction of return of the bride price, as well as the right of a widow.
Cited as Tai Native Marriage regulation and other relation Byelaw 2005, sections 1&2 of it recommend N50,000 only as bride price for marriages contracted under the law, while section 3 upholds that all process of marriage shall be done in accordance will native law and custom in the area.
The leader of Tai Legislative Assembly, Hon. Epbabari Ntor-ue representing ward 3 who briefed reporters in Port Harcourt said the bill deserves all the attention accorded it including the proposed public hearing because of its subsequent effect on the socio-cultural life of the people.
For instance, Hon. Ntor-ue referred to sections 4,5 and 6 of the bill, which, he said, do not only empower women to commence divorce proceeding like men, but also take away some of what were rights of the men before the law became operational.
Bride price shall not be returned, if the divorced wife had children for the man, but the reverse shall be the case where the woman commenced the action without reasonable conditions, the law says.
What looks like the most intriguing area of the byelaw could be found under sections 7,8 and 9 where part of it recommends that, in case of doubt, conflict or disagreement between relatives or privies and the biological father over the parentage of a child, the child shall on maturity age decided his or her own parentage.
The biological father according to section 7 (4) of the bill shall pay the sum of N50,000 to the grand parents of the finally legitimized child.
Under section 8, a widow shall not only have the right to quit her matrimonial home, but shall be considered free to re-marry any place or to person provided all traditional provisions cited by the law have been met.
However a fine of N3,000 or three months imprisonment or both hangs over any person who may deprive a widow of her inheritance to her deceased husband's property.
The remaining sections of this important bill deal with penalties, exemptions and authorities concerned with successful implementation.
The Legislative Assembly Leader, Hon. Ntor-ue said the council's chairman, Dr. Jacobson Nbina had performed creditably and extended similar comment to King G.N.K. Gininwa for piloting traditional institution in the area towards positive development.
He urged the people of Tai to attend enmasse the proposed public hearing on the bill to enable them contribute their opinions in view of the significance of the bill on their present and future life.
All the councilors namely Epbabari Ntor-ue, Dornubari Mesua, Keta Ndah, Christian Kamanu and Julius Aminikpo N, as well as Honourable Monday Saah, Stephen Mene Nkiane, Dum Saro Timothy, Festus Tanza and Samuel Deenwa attended each of the sessions and contributed effectively to deliberations on the issues of the day.