Probably to encourage citizens to pay their taxes, the FIRS, in the message, said: “Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes.”
The message stirred up reactions among Christians, who wondered why a public office would use such words to pass across an Easter message.
In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, the National Director of National Issues and Social Welfare of CAN, Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (rtd), expressed CAN’s concern over the recurrence of provocative messages around religious holidays, stressing that such messages not only threaten the delicate fabric of the country’s unity but also undermine the efforts of countless Nigerians working towards fostering mutual respect among diverse religious groups.
In its reaction, FIRS tendered an apology to Christians and CAN, stating that it did not put out the flier purposely to denigrate Jesus Christ or detract from the huge sacrifice He made for humanity.
“The message was our way of uniquely engaging taxpayers and to remind them of the need to prioritise payment of their taxes as a civic obligation. Yes, we would say the message ruffled feathers in some circles.
The unintended meaning/insinuation being read into the post was not what we were out to communicate as an agency. Good a thing, this much is acknowledged by CAN in its statement wherein it said “We recognise that the intended message may have been to creatively engage taxpayers…” We wish to offer our unreserved apologies for this misinterpretation. ‘’
“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. Our goal is to assess, collect and account for revenue for the wellbeing of the Federation.
We believe it is an investment in the progress of the country when citizens pay their taxes. Once again, we wish to apologise to CAN and Christians who felt offended at the unintended consequence of our message on Easter Sunday”, FIRS stated in a statement.
Ayuba had said: “It has come to our attention that FIRS has released an Easter message that has sparked significant public outcry among Christians. It is with a profound sense of duty to national unity and respect for religious sentiments that we address the controversial statement ‘Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes’ circulated by FIRS.
“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.”
Ayuba observed Easter as a time of solemn reflection and sacred observance for Christians, and therefore should not be juxtaposed with civic obligations in a manner that trivialises or mocks core religious beliefs.
He stated that religious convictions were at the heart of the country’s identity and deserved the utmost respect, adding that the analogy drawn by the FIRS between the pivotal Christian doctrine of redemption and the civic duty of tax payment had been received with distress and indignation by the Christian community.
“We recognise that the intended message may have been to creatively engage tax-payers; however, the execution has regrettably crossed the bounds of cultural and religious decorum. While the FIRS’s intent may not have been to show irreverence, the impact of the message cannot be ignored. It is imperative to remember that the use of religious symbols and narratives should be handled with the highest degree of sensitivity, especially when intersecting with secular matters,” he added.
Ayuba, who urged all public and private organisations to exercise caution and consideration for the diverse religious backgrounds of society, said “it is crucial that communications, especially from public institutions, are crafted with a clear understanding of the cultural and religious tapestry that defines our nation.”
Consequently, CAN urged the management of FIRS to retract the message and offer a public apology for the distress caused.
The Christian body added: “We also urge President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and the Department of State Security Service (DSS) 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, we must strive to uphold the principles of respect and sensitivity in all our public discourses. It is through these values that we can continue to build a truly harmonious and inclusive Nigeria.”
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.”
Ayuba observed Easter as a time of solemn reflection and sacred observance for Christians, and therefore should not be juxtaposed with civic obligations in a manner that trivialises or mocks core religious beliefs.
He stated that religious convictions were at the heart of the country’s identity and deserved the utmost respect, adding that the analogy drawn by the FIRS between the pivotal Christian doctrine of redemption and the civic duty of tax payment had been received with distress and indignation by the Christian community.
“We recognise that the intended message may have been to creatively engage tax-payers; however, the execution has regrettably crossed the bounds of cultural and religious decorum. While the FIRS’s intent may not have been to show irreverence, the impact of the message cannot be ignored. It is imperative to remember that the use of religious symbols and narratives should be handled with the highest degree of sensitivity, especially when intersecting with secular matters,” he added.
Ayuba, who urged all public and private organisations to exercise caution and consideration for the diverse religious backgrounds of society, said “it is crucial that communications, especially from public institutions, are crafted with a clear understanding of the cultural and religious tapestry that defines our nation.”
Consequently, CAN urged the management of FIRS to retract the message and offer a public apology for the distress caused.
The Christian body added: “We also urge President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and the Department of State Security Service (DSS) 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, we must strive to uphold the principles of respect and sensitivity in all our public discourses. It is through these values that we can continue to build a truly harmonious and inclusive Nigeria.”
