Confab Delegates Move For Religious Bodies To Pay Tax

Delegates at the ongoing National Conference has unanimously agreed that churches and mosques in the country should begin to pay tax to government coffers.   

*Former Minister Of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi
The decision was brought to fore on Tuesday by a delegate representing civil organisations, Mallam Naseer Kura, during his contribution on the report of the Committee on Religion.

Kura pointed out that religious leaders were making so much money and needed to be taxed for it, adding that most pastors own private jets and universities at the expense of the people.

Kura insisted that with the amount of money that most religious leaders make in the country, they ought to pay tax to the government.

Responding, Mr. Isaac Ighure, a delegate representing the Nigeria Guild of Editors also noted that pastors and heads of churches made too much money not to pay tax, and stressed that they should be compelled to pay their tax in order for the elite to stop abusing the poor in the society.

"Some people buy private jets when people in their churches are suffering and living in abject poverty, they should be made to pay taxes" he said.

When the matter was put to vote, the delegates in unison voted ‘yes’ in support of the motion that religious bodies should pay taxes.

In another development, the conference also passed the recommendation that government should stop sponsoring its officials on any pilgrimage, and also not to spend public funds in carrying out religious pilgrimages for any category of citizens as well as government functionaries.