Mohammed Shosanya
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed deep concern over a controversial Easter message released by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which has sparked significant public outcry among Christians.
In a statement signed by Prophet Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (rtd), the National Director of National Issues and Social Welfare for CAN, the organization urged the management of the FIRS to retract the message and issue a public apology for the distress caused.
The organization also urged key governmental figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Finance Wale Edun, and the Department of State Security Service (DSS), to guide the FIRS in adhering to communication strategies that promote respect, unity, and cohesion.
The organization emphasized the importance of respecting religious sentiments and fostering national unity.
It highlighted the Easter period as a time of solemn reflection and sacred observance for Christians, emphasizing that messages from public institutions should not trivialize or mock core religious beliefs.
The analogy drawn by the FIRS between the Christian doctrine of redemption and the civic duty of tax payment was deemed offensive and derogatory by the Christian community.
Acknowledging the FIRS’s intent to engage taxpayers creatively, CAN asserted that the execution of the message crossed cultural and religious boundaries, causing distress and indignation.
The organization called for public and private organizations to exercise caution and consideration for the diverse religious backgrounds of society, emphasizing the need for communications to be crafted with sensitivity.
