CAN demands apology from FIRS over offensive Easter message
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has demanded an apology from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for its Easter advertisement considered as trivialising the Christian religious belief.
The tax agency in its Easter season advertisement, said, “Jesus covered your debt, not your taxes.”
But the Christian Association of Nigeria took offence to the advert, describing it as provocative and offensive.
The CAN National Director for National Affairs and Social Welfare, Prophet Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (rtd), noted that he was aware that the message had attracted public outrage from the Christian community.
He said, “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 debts, not your taxes’ circulated by the 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.
“Such messages not only threaten the delicate fabric of our national unity but also undermine the efforts of countless Nigerians working towards fostering mutual respect among diverse religious groups.
“The Easter period, a time of solemn reflection and sacred observance for Christians, should not be juxtaposed with civic obligations in a manner that trivializes or mocks core religious beliefs”.
