The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to retract its Easter message and offer a public apology.
National director of national issues and social welfare at CAN Cdre Abimbola Ayuba (rtd), in a statement on Tuesday, said the FIRS’ Easter message threatened Nigeria’s unity and undermined respect among diverse religious groups.
The FIRS Easter message was “Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes”.
CAN, while reacting to it, described the message as “offensive and derogatory” to the Christian faith.
“The Easter message by FIRS does not only threaten Nigeria’s delicate unity but also undermines the efforts of many Nigerians working towards fostering mutual respect among diverse religious groups.
“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 statement said.
