I.M.C. means Inter-Governmental Marital Committee. The Committee is comprised of the three arms of the Nigerian government: (Executive, Legislative & Judicuary), Federal Government, State Governments, Ministries and Parastatals and other marital Stakeholders. It also includes the two major religious groups in Nigeria namely: Christianity represented by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Islam by Supreme Islamic Council of Nigeria (SICON).
The Inter-Governmental Marital Committee Nigeria was officially inaugurated in Nigeria in 1999 by Professor Musa Yakubu Jella; the then Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs in Jos, Plateau State, after the return of Nigeria to democratic rule or administration.
The Committee has on its membership as at inauguration in 1999: The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs and Federal Ministry of Justice represented on the Committee by National Judicial Institute (NJI). However, over the years, the Committee membership has been broaden to include some other departments in the three tiers of government in Nigeria. Such departments and ministries or bodies include the following: Department of Local Government in the office of the SGF (Presidency), State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Local Government Service Commission from the various states in Nigeria, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA), Christian association of Nigeria (CAN), Nigerian Bar Association and some other relevant bodies from other tiers of government like Federal House of Representatives' relevant committee.
The Inter-Governmental Marital Committee in Nigeria promotes the growth and development of the family institution and marriage registration system in Nigeria at the Local Government Council by providing the platform for marriage registration stakeholders from all tiers of government to chart the right direction for the development of the family institution through effective marriage registration administration by the stakeholders. The Committee also provides continuous technical assistance to the Local Government Council Marriage Registry through continuous manpower skill development training for Local Government functionaries in Nigeria and outside Nigeria through National Training Workshop, Marital Symposium and Conferences and International Exchange Sturdy Tour of Commonwealth member Countries and countries that are signatory to the United Nations Charter on Right to Development and the United Nations General Assembly resolution 41/128 which was reaffirmed by the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
The Inter-Governmental Marital Committee in Nigeria is practically in the vanguard of developing a reliable and globally acceptable and accessible statistics of marriages at the State and Local Government Council by floating a functional National Marital databank on a globally acceptable and accessible website domain for Nigerians at home and in Diaspora for the development of family institution and in particular marriage registration administration as part of the United Nations resolution 41/128 and Vienna Declaration on Right of Development with a special focus on family institution and development of reliable statistic of marriages for government and non-government agencies in and outside Nigeria.
The Status of IMC Nigeria
In Nigeria, Councils are set up with enacted bills signed into laws by the executives, while Committees are set up with mandates on specific functions. The I.M.C. as a Committee, has mandates that are in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution in the Schedule 4 (i) on functions of Local Government to register all types of marriages. Marriage ACT is an act which makes provisions for the celebration and registration of marriages in Nigeria.
VISION STATEMENT
To be the major body to coordinate activities or affairs and render services that enhance the effectiveness of Marriages, by securing the Couples, and intended Families locally and Globally through our recognized online Marriage registration platform.
MISSION STATEMENT
To train, oversee and manage members practice of Marriage administration and guidance in standard way similar to the international best practice and hereby influence the pattern at maintaining the Sacredness of Marriage among Families in the Community and Nations.
ARTICLES AS APPROVED BY CAC
- To train and provide a bold advice to relevant institutions or bodies in the public and private sectors aimed at protecting the interest of intended and Married Couples
- To educate members on the detailed ethical standard that will be in compliance with the international best practices
- To educate members and relevant honorary title holders on the conducts, operations and activities of Marriage institution
- To educate Couples and carry out seminars that will bring about social well being in Families and societies
- To educate Couples on maintaining Marriage honors, Family Morals and Cultural Values
- To do many other things that are considered necessary or conducive for the attainment of the above named objectives or any of them
Mandate
To educate and give tentative advises
MOTTO
Maintaining Sacredness of Marriage
CORE VALUES USING "RESULT" AS AN ACRONYM
R........... Respect each other's differences and boundaries
E...........Empathize and understand each other's feelings and needs
S...........Support each other's goals, dreams and aspirations
U...........Unite and work together as a team
L...........Love and cherish each other unconditionally
T...........Trust and communicate openly and honestly.
OUR SERVICES
- (1) Education and Training
- (2) Counseling individual and the general Public
- (3) Advisors on Marriage Advocacy processes
- (4) Advisors to public and private institutions to ensure compliance with relevant laws and policies governing valid Marriages
- (5) Research, Survey, Statistics and Development
- (6) Organize Seminars, Workshops, Conferences and Town hall meetings for stakeholders and other interested groups
