The Abia State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has criticized a tax policy targeting church signposts implemented by the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
In a letter addressed to Governor Otti, the state chairman, Rev. Ojo Ojo Uduma, along with Secretary Rev. Dr. Francis E. Okere, expressed their concern that Abia is the only state in Nigeria enforcing such a tax on churches.
The apex Christian body maintained that the policy could compel Christians in the state to perceive the “regime as anti-church,” noting that Christians should not be forced to pay for church signposts in ‘God’s own state’.
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“On behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter, we write to express our displeasure over the State Government’s Policy of compelling churches to be paying taxes on their signposts. As a Christian and God’s own state, it is regrettable that Abia State is the only State in the whole federation that is taxing churches on their signposts.
“We therefore, passionately plead with Your Excellency as a matter of urgency, to carefully look into this matter and possibly rescind this policy to avoid compelling the Body of Christ in the State from seeing this regime as being anti-church,” CAN said in the letter.
The religious organization requested a round table meeting with the state governor to discuss the tax policy.
However, CAN reaffirmed its support for the state government despite the differences over the tax policy.
“Furthermore, Sir, Leaders of the Christian Body in the State can be invited for a roundtable discussion on the way forward over this very little but delicate issue,” the letter read.
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