Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has come under fire following its Easter advert in the media that is deemed to have offended the sensibility of Christians.
FIRS in the said advert placed in national newspapers and circulated online wrote, “Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes.”
It ired not few people online with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, voicing its displeasure via a statement its National Director, National Issues and Social Welfare, Prophet Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (rtd) issued.
In the angry rejoinder, the Christians’ body petitioned the tax agency for retraction, and a public apology for the distress the advert caused.
“It is with a profound sense of duty to national unity and respect for religious sentiments that we address the controversial statement “Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes” circulated by the FIRS.
“As a nation that prides itself on religious harmony and peaceful coexistence, we are deeply concerned by the recurrence of provocative messages around religious holidays.
“This year, a public institution, which should be the bastion of exemplary conduct, has been implicated in disseminating content that is widely regarded as offensive and derogatory to the Christian faith.
“Such messages not only threaten the delicate fabric of our national unity but also undermine the efforts of countless Nigerians working towards fostering mutual respect among diverse religious groups.
“The Easter period, a time of solemn reflection and sacred observance for Christians, should not be juxtaposed with civic obligations in a manner that trivializes or mocks core religious beliefs,” the statement read in part.
