Pay your taxes, stop sinning against God, Cleric tells Ogun residents

The Bishop of Remo and Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Archbishop Olusina Fape, has urged residents of Ogun state to pay their taxes in order to avoid committing a sin against God.

Archbishop Fape stated this during his sermon at the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) New Year Prayer session in Abeokuta, the state capital.

He explained that taxes are not only civil requirement but scriptural mandate which must be paid regardless of status, gender, or religious beliefs.

Speaking on the topic, “Civic Obligations Are Biblical and Scriptural”, Archbishop Fape, while citing the book of Romans Chapter 13 verses 1 to2  and 6 to 7, stressed that taxes are divinely ordained system and those who disobey or are unfaithful in their tax collection are sinners.

“There should be no arbitrariness either in the payment or collection of taxes; they must be based on right assessment. This is clear from the word of God. Whoever does not pay taxes, no matter the status, already sinned against God”, he said.

He however, urged staff of the agency to perform their duties with fear of God, as they would be rewarded according to their actions.

“Even tax collectors in the bible were called sinners because they were collecting more than what they ought to, in today’s palance, bribery and corruption. As you go about to do your God ordained job to achieve 2024 target, embrace righteousness; you will surely exceed your target because with righteousness in place, there is no limit’’, he said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Hamid Olanrewaju, from the Islamic religion, took his message from Chapter 33 of the Holy Quran and urged the staffers to uphold the government’s trust in them.

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of OGIRS, Olugbenga Olaleye, called for increased staff support, commitment, and focus in order to meet the 2024 revenue target.

He appreciated the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, for his support and announced the establishment of a new Border Tax Office at Oyo State’s border areas to serve those working in neighbouring communities.