Why Churches should be Taxed in Nigeria

What was the motive behind not taxing churches from the inception of modern taxation? Why are churches called nonprofit organizations hence letting them be tax free? Are they really what they claim to be or is this a cheap ploy used to elude taxation and enrich their lives without being under scrutiny? Probably it was nonprofit in the “old time religion” but in 2016, is that still the case? Let us leave the world and focus on Nigeria. I do not believe any other country in the world exports religion as much as Nigeria. We export more religion than oil and have more churches than people in our country. We are that religious. But I believe that churches in Nigeria should be taxed. For all intent and purposes, it is the right thing to do. It is an NGO and should give account like every other non governmental organization. The privilege should be withdrawn.

To the questions on your mind, Yes! I am Christian. Yes I believe in God, No! I am not atheist but being a Christian doesn’t cloud my sense of judgment; neither does it narrow my common sense to the eye of a needle. I do not see any reason why Christians cannot use their brain and think liberally. I am focused on Christians because this one, I can explain better and up until this day, over 20 years of being on earth, I haven’t understood what part of nonprofit organization church fits into. Reasons for my school of thought may not sit well with you but so does aliens and UFO right?

First off, Nigerian pastors are some of the richest men in the world. They own fleets of cars, luxurious houses and some of them even own private jets. Yet unlike the average civil servant and other occupations who work hard and earn a living (I am not implying Pastors don’t work hard), they go scot free of taxes for doing the “work of God”. While we do not expect them to be poor, we expect that if they have to make such money from their congregation whether by means of gifts, tithing or offering, they should be able to contribute to the increment of revenue and improve the economy of this country. They live here not in heaven so they have to help the betterment of earth.

Also, there are over a million churches in this country. Do you know how much the government loses from not collecting a dime from these churches? Every day in Nigeria, in fact, as I type this a new church is being opened somewhere in this country. The government should really take advantage of this. Various people spring from nowhere and open churches because they have realized it is the easiest way to enrich themselves in our motherland without bothering about EFCC and all other issues. Since the probe of various sectors in this country started, has anyone cast an eye on churches? No. and that’s because nobody sees it as a place where the money spent concerns the government or a threat to the country’s economy. Members are extorted everyday in the name of God and until the government starts to take a share back from them, it would not come to an end.

Double taxation for the members you say? Well, if you give someone 30000 from your monthly salary after paying taxes to the government and they go pay their own taxes from the money, you do not feel like you are double taxed right? That is probably because you gave that freely and whatsoever the receiver decides to do with the money doesn’t concern you. But you have been double taxed. Precise, when most Christians donate in church, they do not bother what is done with the money. They leave the pastors to God, so leave them and your money to the federal government also.

The move of taxing churches will curb the emergence of churches everywhere in the country. And existing churches will reduce the opening of branches at every corner and street of the country. While I am not against religion and people practicing it the way they love, I strongly believe we do not need as much churches as is present in Nigeria. 

These so called nonprofit organizations do no charity in this country. They do not help anyone not even their church members. They build schools members of their churches cannot afford to go and many of them haven’t even said hi to the affected ones at any IDP camp or other places that need their assistance or help. The aim of the nonprofit has been defeated and is no longer in use like in the days when churches functioned as such. They do not help this country move forward in any way possible neither do they even bring any form of sanctity. Nigeria is still one of the most corrupt countries amidst all the religious and sanctimonious living. The only way they can be useful and support this country is by at least paying taxes to the government. Even Jesus Christ paid his taxes. This is tantamount to the growth of Nigeria as a country and would move us forward in the right direction. “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar people.”