Osun Bishop Decries Move To Tax Religious Centres
The Bishop of Sufficient Grace and Truth Ministry in Osun state, Bishop Seun Adeoye has condemned plans by the state government to place taxes on religious centres.
Addressing a press conference at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, Bishop Adeoye said the decision to collect taxes from the clergy is a way to wage war against religion in the state.
Adeoye, the Osun State Coordinator and Spokesman, World Bishops Council (WBC), Africa claimed that the Department of Internal Generated Revenue in the state had on September 12, 2019 announced its intention to place taxes on religious centres in the state.
It could also be recalled that the state Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola had been canvassing for payment of taxes by citizens to compliment the government’s efforts at developing the state.
But Adeoye said collection of taxes from priests would birth revolution in the state and asked government to rescind the decision.
He said, “in its bid to ensure success in the collection of these taxes, the state government had last week, subtly compiled names of all religious centres in the state, especially churches. This move is satanic and I see this as one of the projects of Antichrist to stifle the Church of God to extinction.
” It must be emphasised that religious places are not business centres. They are places where Children of God congregate to worship God. Those who assembled in these religious centers are same people who had performed their civic responsibilities to the society. Members had already paid their taxes because we taught them to do so.
“Why planning to take taxes from those which today had virtually taken over government’s duties? Those abandoned by the people in the position of authority have become the Church’s burden. Our Churches today are like IDP centres where food items and clothing are being distributed for people neglected and abandoned by the government.
“Let Government understand that this move is a call for war and some of us are ready to fight with every legal means. Already, I have started mobilising people towards this direction. Whoever advises the goverment along that line is a number one enemy of government,” he said.