A former Minister of State for the Interior, Chief Demola Seriki, says that in the face of the dwindling price of crude oil, churches and mosques that own businesses should pay tax to the government.



Seriki, who was also a supervising Minister of Mines and Steel under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration, said this during an interview with our correspondent on Monday.

The ex-minister’s call came less than a week after the Federal Government announced that N50 would be deducted from money deposited into any customer’s account as part of the efforts to boost government’s revenue in the face of the dwindling oil price.

He said religious bodies, especially churches, had built large business empires including universities but many of them were not paying tax.

The ex-minister said the wealth being made from these businesses was used in buying private jets with the government losing out.

He explained that some churches even had rented apartments in their various camps but were not paying land use charge to the government.

He said, “Places of worship such as churches and mosques should not pay tax but when they go into investment outside their main focus, they must pay tax. For example, there are some churches that are into importing and exporting and they are benefitting from the economy.

“You cannot do that without paying tax. They are not paying now. They use the name of the church to escape paying tax. This is wrong.

“Some churches have hundreds of houses in their various camps which they rent out but they don’t pay tax to the government because they are registered as religious organisations and are not paying tax. So, we must http://www.nairawall.com/lagos/lagos-mainland/news/viewpoint/941

These pentecostal business centres should be made to pay the highest punitive tax rate possible.
Only the clueless and the brainwashed " not my portion" zombies will argue against.
They are doing so much damage that if possible, their books should be examined and if any misappropriation is discovered ,they should be penalised.
The only thing they are good at is opening branches all over the place to vacuum resources from local communities.
Who can forget the harvests and special donation events organised by the old generation churches( Catholic, Anglican, Methodist etc) to fund local development?
From beautiful schools where the poor get sound education to hospitals and orphanages.
Not one or even ten of my friends' children attend such school free of any charge and funded from donations by the local congregation and the neighbourhood.
Obviously not in Nigeria because the Christians have gone insane.
Those type of churches still exists.in the developed world that is.

OK,we will look into it,
pls pass it to P.A.

They shouldn't forget to add shrines too.

I would have love to say YES, but when they pay, it gets embezzled or mismanaged by the government in power - "feedeefee" or "afeecee".

I think churches and mosques should be genuinely philanthropic rather than finance the luxurious lifestyles of their leaders.

They pay tax in europe

Y. not every one knew what does missionaries done they develop rural areas and provide facilities but the so called churches of nowadays are counting billions they aint preaching the gospel ..the pastor are getting richer y the members are getting poorer

I concur
Today Pentecostal churches are just using the gullibles to enrich themselves
Unlike the old churches who gave back to the society and educated our parents and grand parents for free
Tax them heavily if they can't give back to the society apart from fake miracles and fake hopes they offer

Still wonder why churches don't pay tax, I think it is even more biblical to pay tax than tithe.

Pastors stress tithe as thou its the only command in the bible, (even though its no longer relevant), yet they don't pay or encourage members to pay tax for the growth of the country. Yet we claim we're praying for this country.

From where did we want the development to come from? Most of this country's landed property and investments belongs to the church, yet we are exempted from paying tithe. The lord forgive us.



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Maxtermind:
A former Minister of State for the Interior, Chief Demola Seriki, says that in the face of the dwindling price of crude oil, churches and mosques that own businesses should pay tax to the government.

Seriki, who was also a supervising Minister of Mines and Steel under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration, said this during an interview with our correspondent on Monday.
The ex-minister’s call came less than a week after the Federal Government announced that N50 would be deducted from money deposited into any customer’s account as part of the efforts to boost government’s revenue in the face of the dwindling oil price.
He said religious bodies, especially churches, had built large business empires including universities but many of them were not paying tax.
The ex-minister said the wealth being made from these businesses was used in buying private jets with the government losing out.
He explained that some churches even had rented apartments in their various camps but were not paying land use charge to the government.
He said, “Places of worship such as churches and mosques should not pay tax but when they go into investment outside their main focus, they must pay tax. For example, there are some churches that are into importing and exporting and they are benefitting from the economy.
“You cannot do that without paying tax. They are not paying now. They use the name of the church to escape paying tax. This is wrong.
“Some churches have hundreds of houses in their various camps which they rent out but they don’t pay tax to the government because they are registered as religious organisations and are not paying tax. So, we must http://www.nairawall.com/lagos/lagos-mainland/news/viewpoint/941

More comments

Yes! That's if they use the religious houses to do business or generate revenue of any kind.

Churches & mosques shouldnt pay tax...
FG is already boosting economy about #2billion it makes everyday from #50 it collects as stamp duty(see 2day‘s Guardians)...

YES! I say yes because these religions have lost their value.

Check that most of these looters of Nigeria treasury belong to one of these religions. Again, these looters went on pilgrimages to their holy lands during their period in office. Don't be surprised that some of the looters use the pilgrimage periods to hoard their loots abroad.

Religion has become a mere political tool, used to enhance the business of the political class, hence they should pay tax.

Chigold101:
Churches & mosques shouldnt pay tax...
FG is already boosting economy about #2billion it makes everyday from #50 it collects as stamp duty(see 2day‘s Guardians)...

In fact, we need these businesses (churches and mosques) to pay tax...Private jets, mansions, range rovers, SUVs everywhere and still no tax

The #50 stamp duty is more reason these 'religious businesses' should pay tax.

Weather they are doing business or not o. The bible said to pay to ceaser what belongs to ceaser and the rest you know theist.


Let every church business or not pay tax and should be taxed properly.

Naughtysite:
Today, churches own nursery, primary and secondary schools. They own universities, printing presses, publishing companies, record labels, guest houses and pivate jets.

If an N18,000 earning civil servant pays income tax, why wont such conglomerates pay tax ?

Income generating businesses should be taxed..

GBAM!!!

YES! Churches and mosques should pay tax.

I love this discussion
cc: lalasticlala

Op, dont disturb yourself too much. With fashola as one of Buhari's ministers. They'll pay tax. Fashola must have suggested that to Buhari cos they paid tax during fashola's tenure.

Buhari is still on their matter. Probably suggesting all churches and mosques will be having a govt tax inspection officers which will create employment and also #10 tax deduction on every tithe and offering donated by each member of the church or mosque.

Imagine this kind of convo btw fashola and buhari

Fashola: The church and mosque tax payment i discussed with you is such a great idea sir.

Buhari: Yes! Pashola, you're right. I'll ask the ministry of taxation to start working on that. This country must be great by all means.

Watch out!


Check my signature for ur customised wristband

if they wish to pay, so be it!!

Do churches use public services like roads,security etc?. If yes they should be made to pay taxes or contribute to some special public fund.

WHy Not If Not?

if a church or mosque owns a biz and makes profit out of it, they should pay tax


currently, biz owned by churches and mosque in Nigeria has been tax

I support but our people will claim taxing God's money is Blasphemy ..

The only reason that religuous organisations are tax exempt in saner climes is cos they don't dabble into other money making ventures..... . nothing like bottle water factories, schools, bakeries etc..

We buy books & calendars & they want to stiff the tax man!! Na from inside God's vineyard judgement go start.

It is double taxation to tax church offerings because the givers have paid their taxes. But you can tax the church investments like Schools, hospitals, Event centres and any other income generating venture owed by the religious organizations.

Will the government also tax babalawos

Religious centres don't pay tax on their investment??.? This is serious.

Should Landlords and tenants pay Tax?

Nooooo. You can't tax them for the donations (offering ) people give because, those incomes have been taxed at the source.
However, if the pastor or any other church worker is on salary, he must pay Personal Income Tax. But since the church is not a company and is not supposed to be incorporated for profit making, it should not pay tax. But if the church has any business, that biz must pay tax.

Even traditional worshippers.

Churches should,they sure do make a lot of money than mosques.