RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND TAX EXEMPTION CANCELLATION: THE IMPLICATIONS.

Controversies have trailed the debate whether to cancel the exemption of religious institutions from tax paying or to contnue enjoying the isolation from economic and political interference and not be encroached of Divine societal abligation and responsibilities they are performing. The debate elicited as a result of the continuos emphases of people on the flamboyant and luxurious life styles of religious clerics and the reccommendation of National conference committee on the issue, believing they are rich enough to help the government improve its national income, most especially during this arduous economic year ahead and the affected projected national income caused by the continuos drop of the price of crude oil, thus facilitating the government to look inward for income generation to balance the recessed income caused by the devaluation of petroleum at the international market. However, there are questions that emanated which require answers before making any decision: Do mosques generate much income as the churches? Would the people not be made to pay double taxes? Is it these clerics that would be taxed or their organisations?

By virtue of how religious institutions aboriginated, political and economic interference in the financial and general activities would be a taint on religious practice in Nigeria, and have a great influence on the ambit of religious establishment in Nigeria. The reccommendation of the "Confab" committee was to be paying tax, after series of debate and assessment on the issue. In fact, seperatism of religious institutions and practice from political and economic interference has made many religious organisations enjoyed too much preferential isolation and yet seriously earning so much more than what one could imagine; thereby making the creation of churches in particular, an avenue for money making in the society.

Nevertheless the decision to cancel the tax exemption or not, requires much consideration and carefulness on the part of the government so as not to taint and abuse the existence of religious institutions in Nigeria and however rescind its isolatory preference from political and economic infiltration, and more so removes all doubts of business motive behind the establishment of "churches" in Nigeria.

Edited by: Fatai4change