National Conference: Churches, mosques, temples might pay taxes
Jeremiah Kusoro
National Conference has reportedly
commenced consideration of a proposal which will mandate a body to audit the accounts and finances of all registered churches, mosques, and temples annually.
This follows a memorandum submitted to the Committee on Religion on Monday by a delegate to the Conference, Jonathan Obaje.
The memorandum calls for the auditing
of all registered religious organizations, groups, centres, churches, mosques or temples by a special religion account auditors.
Mr. Obaje, who is representing people in diaspora (Asia), stated in the memorandum that the aim was to protect religion from being hijacked by criminals who used it against gullible innocent citizens.
He suggested that the leader of the team to audit any registered religious organizations should be from a different religion body.
Also, mosques and churches in the memorandum might be banned from using loud speakers to call worshippers to early morning prayers soon.
Mr. Obaje, an indigene of Kogi State noted that chapter IV Section 38 of the1999 Constitution had made adequate provisions for the rights of citizen to religion, which should be upheld without amendment.
He however suggested various religious crimes that should be punishable under the law in the country.
Some of the offences according to him include, mounting of loud speakers on churches, mosques and temples which disturb personal and public peace of other citizens. Religious buildings located in any community with population density of more than 1,000
persons per square kilometre should be sound-proof. He added that the broadcast of religion programs on public media should be prohibited, religious prayers at official and public functions should be prohibited. Obstructions to traffic by any religious group should be prohibited by law and religious organizations, groups, centres, churches, mosques or temples must keep proper register of auditable membership.
Churches, mosques and temples might start paying taxes to the coffers of government as contained in the memorandum.