FIRS Issues Apology to Christians Over Easter Message Controversy

In a now-deleted Easter Message, the FIRS stated, “Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes,” igniting significant public outcry among Christians.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has issued an apology to Christians following backlash over its Easter message.

VerseNews gathered that on March 31, in a now-deleted post about Easter, the FIRS stated, “Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes,” igniting significant public outcry among Christians.

In response, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemned the FIRS Easter message, demanding an apology from the agency. CAN described the message as “offensive and derogatory to the Christian faith.”

Addressing CAN’s concerns, Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser, media to the FIRS, stated that the agency did not intend to denigrate Jesus Christ or detract from his sacrifice. He emphasized that the essence of Easter is to celebrate this sacrifice.

Adekanmbi clarified that the message aimed to engage taxpayers and remind them of their civic obligation to pay taxes. However, he acknowledged that the message caused controversy in some circles.

The FIRS asserted that it respects all religions and aims to collect revenue for the wellbeing of the Federation. The agency emphasized its commitment to fostering progress through tax compliance.

Apologizing to CAN and Christians offended by the Easter message, the FIRS acknowledged the unintended consequences of the post and expressed regret for any offense caused.

FIRS Apology to Christians Over Easter Message Controversy

“We are acutely aware that the essence of the Easter period is to celebrate this huge sacrifice,” he said.

“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.

“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,” FIRS said.

“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.”