The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has issued an apology to Christians following a controversial Easter message that stirred widespread condemnation within the faith community in Nigeria.
The controversy erupted after FIRS shared a flier on Easter, depicting a Point of Sale (PoS) machine alongside the caption, “Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes.” The message sparked outrage among Christians, with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the forefront, demanding an apology from the agency.
Although the post was later deleted, FIRS has formally apologized for the perceived offense caused. In a statement issued Tuesday by the Special Adviser (Media) to the FIRS Chairman, the agency expressed regret over the misunderstanding.
“We wish to offer our unreserved apologies for this misinterpretation,” the statement read, acknowledging the unintended implications of the Easter message.
However, FIRS clarified that the flier was not intended to denigrate Jesus Christ or undermine the significance of his sacrifice. “The unintended meaning/insinuation being read into the post was not what we were out to communicate as an agency,” the statement emphasized.
Furthermore, FIRS reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality regarding religion, asserting that the agency’s primary objective is to assess, collect, and account for revenue for the nation’s welfare. “FIRS, as a responsible agency, has no religion and will not bring down any religion or offend the sensibilities of adherents of various faiths in the country,” the statement clarified.
The agency emphasized the importance of tax compliance as an investment in the country’s progress and expressed regret for any offense caused to CAN and the Christian community.
“We believe it is an investment in the country’s progress when citizens pay taxes. Once again, we wish to apologize to CAN and Christians who felt offended at the unintended consequence of our message on Easter Sunday,” FIRS stated.