Your Easter message offensive, CAN demands an apology from FIRS

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been asked to publicly apologize by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for an Easter advertisement that the Christian organization found offensive.

In an X (formerly Twitter) post with the hashtag #FIRSNigeria, the FIRS posted an image of a Point of Sale device along with the statement, “Jesus paid your debts, not your taxes.”

Nigerians, especially Christians, reacted negatively to the message and condemned it.

CAN’s National Director of National Issues and Social Welfare, Abimbola Ayuba, in a statement on Tuesday, called on President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Department of State Services to take notice of the incident and direct the FIRS to adhere to only messages that promote unity and peace , even though the post has been removed.

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Part of the statement said, “In the light of recent events, we call upon the management of the FIRS to retract the message and offer a public apology for the distress caused.

“We also urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Department of State Services to take cognisance of this incident and to guide the FIRS in adhering to communication strategies that promote respect, unity, and cohesion.

“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.

“The Easter period, a time of solemn reflection and sacred observance for Christians, should not be juxtaposed with civic obligations in a manner that trivialises or mocks core religious beliefs. Religious convictions are at the heart of our identity and deserve the utmost respect.

“The analogy drawn by the FIRS between the pivotal Christian doctrine of redemption, and the civic duty of tax payment has been received with distress and indignation by the Christian community.”

The group cautioned all governmental and private organizations to be mindful of the society’s heterogeneous religious origins.

It stated that comprehending the cultural and religious fabric of the country should be clearly understood when crafting messages, especially from government agencies.

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