Igbochief001:

it's the job of the federal government to protect it's citizens from scammers

And when did church members complain to them?

ebukajay184:


https://igberetvnews.com/1362094/cama-fg-says-religious-bodies-must-submit-details-finances/

All of u that want to start meddling in church matter will die a terrible death and be disgraced openly. ur supporters too. God will pull ur tongues out of ur ugly mouths.

aribisala0:

So until we reach the efficiency level of the UK we should not bury dead bodies or clean our streets?
We should not make laws?

How then do we become efficient?

These churches are giving Nigeria a bad name abroad

If we adopt international good practice that is a step in the right direction.

When these churches have arguments is it not the secular government courts they turn to for arbitration?

Phase out corruption in the govt first, or to a good level, so that we van trust this will not be used in a sectarian fashion against churches who speak up against the govt.

Tell me whicj Nigerian political leader in this fg rhat gives Nigeria a good name abroad

This govt has not given us any reason to trust them

What is more important to Nigerians now is security and the economy

Let tjis government face the herdsmen and so called bandits killing people in Nigeria. That is more important than private money held by private organisations

Now it is the church, tomorrow it is ur business and ur bank account they will come after

Igbochief001:

na compare your tithe + offering + seeds to your tax ....which is more

government gives u police , cheap University , fairly functioning hospital that can save your life in emergency , ...what do your church provide again ?

You be mumu to have asked that question. The church gives hope of a better tomorrow while government kills it.

Christian ask for government to be accountable. Its the turn for Churches to become accountable also.

Goke7:


Most nigerian churches do not want to be accountable even to their members parting away with their hard earned resources. Everything is covered using the name of God.

The govt just want these churches to be more accountable

Or they want to increase their looting g capital base with church money.

na2016:


God bless you! Most christians will not see it this way.

And who protects citizens fromthe scam called government in Nigeria.

People who have sold u and borrowed money ur children's children will be unable to pay

adekolaelect:
Many Nigerians are senseless they couldn't like to pay tax for government that can offer them Roads ,Hospitals and many other things but like contributing for religious Leaders who has nothing to offer them than promising Imaginary Heaven which no one had ever go and come back to tell us how it is. But the noise of these Christians is too much as if the law only applicable to churches only .They will only blame government for everything they lack but failed to Question where they contributed their major hard earn resource to simply because of religious sentiment .

You dey mad. The law is not only applicable to churches, how much your own worship center worth?

Tango123:


Phase out corruption in the govt first, or to a good level, so that we van trust this will not be used in a sectarian fashion against churches who speak up against the govt.

Churches should not be speaking up against government neither should mosques. That is politics which they are free to do but then they are no longer churches or mosques if they do that

There is nothing like good level of corruption

Even if there were it is totally unrelated to this issue

why not say wait until there is electricity or till Covid is eliminated

The reality is churches and all charities are competitors of the government for scarce financial resources

Churches can speak up against government they do not need money to do that

We can still hear Jesus' voice 2000 years later and he did not have much money


This is all about money.

Mosques are able to achieve greater penetration of their message than churches with relatively less resources why?

They have greater conviction and commitment.
If this comes into play we will see those who are doing it because of what they believe and not because of money.

DaInferno:
this is a fight for all,we are too Docile about important issues. Who will fight for us

come to think of it,are the Muslims also subjected to such?

Forget that one, no money for mosque jor.

seunmsg:


It is beyond taxation. Issues such as accountability, national security, money laundering, adherence to corporate governance and best practices etc are involved.

It is important to note that not all income of religious organizations are exempted from taxes. Income generated from commercial activities are subject to tax and salaries paid to the clergy are also subject to PAYE. Sadly, most religious organizations always hide some of these informations from government because their books are never subjected to government scrutiny.

Money laundering is another major issue. People steal government funds and lauder same through the accounts of NGOs. Last year, the US government indicted a big player in the aviation industry for using his private NGOs to launder millions of dollars into the US. Dude was even using NGO funds to buy very expensive aircrafts.

National security is another area. How do you think Boko Haram keep getting funding and even moving funds around their various cells without detection? They use sympathetic religious organizations. How will government fight terrorism without monitoring these organizations?

See, let’s remove sentiments and look at this with an open mind. Buhari won’t be the president forever but the law would be there after him. This is about our country and not the president.

The greatest support for terrorism in Nigeria is within the ranks of the army. Uou kjow that. Or dont u.

The reason boko haram is not defeated yet us the same reason fulani herdsmen kill and nothing happens. They hv backers in high places.

Look at atheists and devil worshippers rejoicing over this useless bill. I knew there was problems ahead when these demons in power stated that they have identified several ways of increasing revenue generation. It didn't take long for that custom CG to come out saying soft drink will be taxed and now they have come up with this useless bill. I knew the church will soon be a target for this government who have shown times without number that they cannot be trusted with any policy implementation eg that hate speech bill.
You have never assisted in building any church yet you want to know how the money goes. Soon they will tell you when or when not to pray yet some people are supporting them. O ye foolish Nigerians! who hath bewitched you? Your freedoms are being taken away yet you remain docile to the evil scheming of those supposed to protect your interest

Igbochief001:

government is different from buhari ...u don't throw away a child with the dirty water

Better shut up. Who does not know he can influence what he wants.

TonyeBarcanista:
Those against CAMA Amendment are either ill-informed or mischievous.

In sane societies like USA, South Africa, UK, Europe, Australia etc, there are agencies that regulate religious organisations, CSOs and NGOs. Why should Nigeria's be different?

Some people said it is a fight against the church, and I ask, which Church?

If the Bible is right, the Church is the congregation of believers. It is not a building or religious organisation. And believers don't need any formal nomenclature or organisation to worship. The Bible says where two or three are gathered, CHRIST is present. The Bible never said people should establish organisations, neither did the early Christians establish organisations.

Now let's look this....

A man wakes up on a faithful morning, he approaches CAC (Government) to register his organisation, which he names XYZ Church

He lists himself, his wife, Kids or associates as Trustees

He gets certificate from the government to operate...

Yet, he argues with the government that they have no right to regulate the activities of the same organisation that he went to government to register.

He shouts persecution, war against the church and God.

Meanwhile, he is the final authority and CEO in the religious organisation, and won't hesitate to show the exit door to anyone that questions his authority.

The irony is that he abides to similar laws abroad...


As much as I'm not a fan of this administration, I support this CAMA... Although Nigeria politicians are useless

FACT:

FG or any other government cannot regulate the "Church" (congregation of believers). Even the Roman government couldn't regulate the Church.

However, government can only regulate religious organisations (formal organizations) that are registered with the government in line with the constitutional mandate.

The rule is simple, don't register your organisation with government if you don't want to be regulated... Same way you don't register your business and NGO with government if you don't want their regulation...

You said sane societies, is Nigeria a sane society?

Igbochief001:

it's the job of the federal government to protect it's citizens from scammers

Which scammers, dem force u to pay money in worship places?

Ur useless FG wey dey impose all forms of charges on her citizens na dem dey protect us?

Pedrocross4568:


Anything that have to do with the people is government business. So going by that, the government have every right to investigate the financial activities of the churches cause it has gatherings of members of the public.

u guys are so unbelievable

We are not serious as citizens. The Law is good just let it be well practiced.
Ask your self, why did church go to government to register and will not allow the government to check their excesses.
A church makes 100million naira and somebody will say he is the GO and takes all. Can a bank do that? Did the early churches do that? The answer is no. So how did we start this mess called the GO's. It must stop if we want to really worship God with true pastors as our spiritual leaders. Your donations to a church is not to a man, it is to an organisation that is registered with a focus. So abide and practice that focus that established it. No church registered with CAC has ever said the GO takes all the money, but this changes after and become the norm - so why?

simplyshade:
Nigerian police is scam, hospital scam... Imagine, you even typed "What do your church provide?" Do you also need to be told that schools provided by the resent government sef na scam?

You want Nigeria to be like UK or US but the laws that makes these Nations great you don't want the government to implement them here in shithole naija... Rubbish

Igbochief001:

it's the job of the federal government to protect it's citizens from scammers

Yes.....and it has become so clear that a lot of places of worship are:

1.) Scamming their members
2.) Grooming scammers from their congregation
3.) Aiding Scammers

They must submit to CAMA.

Enough of the scamming while hiding under religion.

CAMA is here to calm them down.

muykem:
There are some aspects that make sense in the law. I will not like a situation where people will form NGO include churches and turn it to family business also. However, the government should understand that spiritual issues are different from physical issues. I, therefore, suggest that the government should not intervene in church affairs except the church is going contrary to its own constitution.

This is witch-hunting. They did this purposely to target those pastors that always attack their evil plan. Ok, why they no do am long ago? Why now? Because in recent time these pastors have been telling them the bitter truth. God is more than a man.

Which mosque built?

Kingspin:

There is everything wrong with it. When you because of Church form amend CAMA.

When the government build million of mosques not the church.
When you destroy the church in the North and they try to rebuild through a donated fund you came up with CAMA

So the church is an NGO while the mosque is a government own.

So why not the government regulate mosque built by the government? Stop state funding of mosques
Why is MUSLIMS SILENT BECAUSE IT NEVER AFFECTED THEM?

But they can put-out from the NBA because of invitation.

Joedave25:


It's because of corruption. The FG want RCCG to give them the money instead of executing the project just like Winners Chapel Ota battled with Ogun state government to allow the church rehabilitate Idiroko Road where the church is situated.

Nigerian Politicians are the highest scammers in the world. They have emptied the Treasury of the Country, borrowed massively from China etal up to the point where your 4th Generation will hardly repay the Loans. Now they have turned their focus on Religious bodies and NGOs to continue their relooting.

Wake up Nairalandals and say no to this move. Needless to argue uneccesarily about this move by FG.FG is targeting at imposing Taxation on them to relooting.Religious bodies and NGOs are still better than FG and Polithievians accross the States, MDAs and FG in terms of welfare.They are the last resort to the common man than your FG.

I stand with Religious bodies (CAN) and NGOs on this matter.

If you really stand 'gidigba' with CAN on this matter then that means you belong to Team JUDAS.

Goke7:


How many churches do AGM [Annual General meetings] or you think churches are exempted? Apart from very few churches like Baptist and other very old churches, how accountable are churches to their members who donate these funds? Look here, human beings are the ones in church and leading these churches and not spirits where we can assume that all they are doing is right. Or you are not aware that money laundering is happening within our churches.

The world has changed bruv, gone are the days we can just assume that our GOs are always right, reason when there is a scandal, it's always grave. Checks and balances are now needed as any registered church is also a civil organization that sue and can be sued.

AGM.... as in annual General meeting.... do I even know what you are saying?? Do you even know what is discussed in AGM... have u attended one b4....??

Plc ... companies that the public officially bought shares i.e own percentages of the company are the once obligated by law to do AGM..... other companies don’t owe the public any explanation of financial records and profit..... the government can only get into their records to check tax fraud and money laundering....

See ....I’m not against church regulation...I’m just against a crooked government that can’t even put his house in order but wants to checkmate churches....
It will not end well for the masses...the government is only looking for extra place to get money... when I saw pepper sellers paying tax.. I knew there’s no amount of money this government can manage.. even if it’s 1000 zillion

They are just skilled in collecting ...

This is exactly what the USA govt wanted to do in the US.during obama time..men of God like Dr Kenneth Copeland rose up and said we are not submitting anything..because govt have no right to hold churches accountable when they have not contributed anything to the church and the bill did not stand..

This CAMA is dead on arrival.
So Buhari achievemet is CAMA..is that how useless this govt has become...

Igbochief001:

it's the job of the federal government to protect it's citizens from scammers

Who are the scammers..did they scam you or your father? If yes when..how

HomerTimpson:
This sheet happened in USA sometime ago

The pastors said no way and the bill did not stand

TimeTraveler369:
I am sure Church goers and tithers will like to know how their offerings are being expended.

Am I right or am I right ?

Did we tell you we wanted such..

AnanseK:


Only a con-man and a cheat will object to accountability.

Who permitted you to ask him for accountability..did you or your father give the person your money or resources to keep and manage..

Halo22:
In as much as the act might not seem to be perceived right by my fellow Christians, I don't think there is anything wrong with it. It is operating in most developed nations we are looking up to and we applaud that. More so, some of the church G.Os are abusing some processes of accountability and transparency under the guise of being the mouth piece of God.

How many laws from developing countries are operated here..like law promoting human dignity and rights..how many? See your yeyecious reasoning

When Jonathan was in Power, people like the RCCG GO, Adeboye, ridiculed his govt. I am particularly thrilled about this development because I know his Church is not going to be exempted. Still waiting for his response though.

Igbochief001:

na compare your tithe + offering + seeds to your tax ....which is more

government gives u police , cheap University , fairly functioning hospital that can save your life in emergency , ...what do your church provide again ?

You are very sick upstairs, giving in church is voluntary and you decide what to give, government states what to collect from you, get it by force yet refuse to give you value for your tax.

While we won't hide the fact that their are goats in sheepsfold however church is not a profit oriented organization hence the reason why we are not subjected to government scrutiny.

You don't hold a riders tail and take pictures, anyone who takes part or celebrate the subjection of the church will begin to experience unending sorrow going forward in the name of Jesus.

OurGod never sleeps watch and see what happens shortly.

For you quickly repent for their is Mercy for you.

Most of us on this thread are not objective, realistiuc, truthful and most are even naive, failing to ask THE RIGHT QUESTIONS:

Let me see if l can assist.

- The most important Question on miy mind is: Why is everyone saying "Church, Church, Church"? Is this CAMA Law not encompassing on ALL NGOs, which inlcudes Churches, Mosques, Civil Society Organisations like those ones claiming to fight poverty, Child abuse, Education for all, etc?
If it is so, it is then wrong to limit the discussion to churches alone. Ofcourse, it appears that among all these NGOs, it is the Churches that have the most money (maybe true or false but at least, it is their Pastors and G.O's that display the most lavish lifestyle)
-Churches, Mosques and other CSO's are registered as NGO, meaning they enjoy Tax breaks, for this reason alone, it is right that Govt monitors their books.
I have seen Nigerian Churches and Mosques overseas, that FREELY collect items like Clothings, Shoes, etc from white people, based on their Charity claim, only to bring it to Nigeria and sell it for Profit, with the Pastor/Imams Pocketing the Money! That is an abuse of priviledge.
- If the CAMA is limited to EXAMINING the Financial Books of the Religious bodies (Church and Mosque) and NGOS's, to ensure the trustees (Pastors, G.O's, Imams, Owner of CSO's) do not steal from the NGO or engage in fiancial recklessness, like G.O using Church Money to pay canadian Prostitute (Pastor Sulaiman), using it to buy Private JETS and living a life of Opulence beyond their income, etc... then it is welcomed.

-Govt of Nigeria is extremely corrupt and has failed in its duties ot Nigerians. Nigerian Govt has looted money from Nigeria's natural resources like Crude Oil, they have looted income from taxes, they have looted loans they took from World Bank, IMF and countrie like China. Nigerian Govt, will LOOT any income it generates from taxing Religious bodies and NGOs, that much is certain.
But does that mean that such religiou sbodies should not pay due tax? No.

- Since Nigeria is under the yoke of Northerners, who are majority Muslims, people are wondering whether this law is going to be weaponised against Christians. As of today, no one (except that evil midjet in Kaduna) can say Christians are not under serious threat in Nigeria.
Leah Sharibu, of all the Girls abducted by Islamic terrorirst, is still in captivity, despite the lip-lies that Buhari has been telling us about getting her released.
Buhari can pay "repentant" terrorist, Buhari can pay Boko Haram to release Muslim gilrs kidnapped but he cant pay the same people to release the ONLY Christian girl in their captivity! That is a shame on the President.
So, will this law be applied unevenly and used to harass Christians, as they are being harrased and killed all over Northenr Nigeria?
Will the same financial scrutiny be extended to Islamic Religious houses? Do Mosques render Account to the Govt?

- The Religious leaders raking over the CAMA Law should also look at themselves in the Mirror. The yshoudo stop saying this law is a declaration of war on Christianity (Islamic Jihadist like Hell Rufai and Boko haram have declared war on Christians before this CAMA Law).
The CAN should state clearly, exactly what they are against in this law. Is it that they are saying they dont want their finance to be examined, if so, WHY? Is it that they think they will have to pay more Tax to Govt? They are currently Tax-exempt so that has not changed.
Are they thinking that the Govt is just trying to use it to muzzle Churches while turning a blind eye to Islamic organisations?
Let them be very clear in their objection to the law.
They should also be prepared to operate within the ambits of the law.[/color]

If the idea behind the Law, from the Govt's point of view, is to raise money, l will say that is unnecessary because the money Govt has raised from other sources, are being looted left, right and center, by Govt Appointees and Politicians, whatever money this CAMA will raise for Govt, will also be looted and the common man will not benefit from it.

[color=#006600]I guess the objection of most people, especially Christians is that this Buhari Govt has shown in many ways, that it is a Jihadist Govt, that it is partial, That it enables Terorirst Fulani Herdsmen who are Muslims, that it favours Islam, that it cannot be trusted to be fair to Christians, that it is extremely corrupt, that it is rudderless, that it cannot protect Christians who are being mirdered in the North of Nigeria and that the President is just a puppet of some Cabal Fulanis.
Such Govt cannot be trusted to mess around with Religion, especially Christian Religion.