Nigerians Discuss Imposing Tax on Nigerian Religious Bodies

About a week ago, the delegates to the ongoing National Conference have unanimously agreed that religious entities of Nigeria should start paying taxes to the government.

It was noted that, since some pastors make sizeable profits out of running churhces, they should also pay taxes.

It is now up to the National Assembly to pass the matter into a respective law or reject the proposition. 

When we asked Nigerians to submit their opinions on the matter, commentators have predictably split into two major groups: those who supported the plan and those who were adamant that religious organizations should be exempt from paying any taxes.

Apart from obvious religious reasons, the latter respondents had it that the move made by the conference was a clear misplacement of priorities, as the delegates should address more pressing issues and problems that Nigeria and Nigerians are currently facing.

They also expressed doubts in the effective allocations of funds generated from oil revenue, other mineral resources and industries.

Some warned that taxing religious organisations could be difficult to impose and therefore lead to a crisis in the society.

Some pointed out that the government has rendered little support for churches and mosques.

Some have noted that, since the churchgoers are already tax payers, taxing churches would mean double taxation. 

The common major reason in favour of taxing churches and mosques was that nowadays, running a church most probably means running a business, and businesses should pay tax.

Many observers have pointed out that founders of various churches and their general overseers are more interested in advertizing their establishments as brands, making profit and enriching themselves than in promoting religious values to the masses. More often than not, there is a huge financial gap between the churchgoers and pastors of those churches.

A lot of commentators have specifically stressed the fact that churches and mosques alike would use the donations of their respective congregations to build private schools and universities that impose fees so high most of the churchgoers cannot afford to send their children there.

For instance, Al-Hikmah University (an Islamic university in Ilorin, Kwara State, founded in 2005 by Abdul Raeem Oladimeji Islamic Foundation and World Assembly of Muslim Youths) fees per semester start from N370,000. Christian universities, such as Bowen, Covenant, Ajayi Crowther impose similar fees.

Pastors who display their wealth should openly declare their assets and pay taxes. Pastors who are involved in any kind of business (such as construction, importation and/or exportation of goods and services) should also be taxed.

Subjecting churches to making financial statement would regularize the system, our readers say, measuring “nefarious and unreligious financial activities” in various houses of God in Nigeria. The practice could also reduce the proliferation of churches

Some of those who have lent their voice for imposing tax on religious bodies suggested that tax should be allocated depending on the level of welfare of this or that pastor.

Many have pointed out that churches should, ideally, transform the lives of the less privileged people for the better and not to serve as a means for their founders, overseers and pastors to accumulate wealth.

It should be noted that members of some religious congregations in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Sweden, some parts of Switzerland and several other countries are subjected to taxation. Also, there are hot debates ongoing in the United States of America as to whether religious entities should be exempt to taxation.

What is your opinion on the matter?

Source: Legit.ng