Mimiko says taxing churches, mosques is devilish

The Ondo state Governor, Dr  Olusegun Mimiko has described any plan to tax churches or mosques to generate revenue as devilish saying his administration never contemplated imposing taxes on places of worship

He said whoever demanded taxes from churches directly or in disguise is an agent of the devil who must be handed over to security agents for appropriate action.

“We don’t tax churches, anybody that comes to church deliberately or in disguise, asking for taxes is a messenger of the devil that must be handed over to the security agencies” Mimiko said.

He however, urged the leadership of places of worship to mandate their members, especially the taxable adults to pay their taxes and other levies to enable government meet its responsibilities and obligation to the people in this era of dwindling resources.

Speaking at The Dome in Akure, during the interdenominational thanksgiving service marking the 40th anniversary of the creation of the State and 7th anniversary of his administration, Dr Mimiko said his administration would neither retrench workers nor reduce workers’ salaries.

Reacting to request for grants to private schools in the State, Governor Mimiko noted that his administration would only provide them grants if they allow government to regulate their schools fees, as most of them, he said, charge exorbitant rates.

He explained that teachers in both public and private schools in the State have been enjoying training and retraining programme of the State government.

“God has been so good to us in this State in the last forty years of its creation and in the last seven years of this administration”, the governor said.