David Oyedepo Defends Nigerian Churches Decision Not to Pay Tax… ‘Tax For What?’

      

Photo: REUTERS/AKINTUNDE AKINLEYE

The richest pastor in Nigeria and the richest in the world, est. $150m, in an interview with Reuters defended his church and other Nigerian churches decision not to pay tax.
In an interview with Reuters, he explained on behalf of his church, Winners Chapel, it’s decision not to contribute to state and federal’s internal revenue generation saying “We use the income of the church to build schools, we use the income of the church to serve the needs of the poor, these are non-profit organizations.”.
He added,  “There is no single government input on this premises, we supply our water, we make our roads, then you … say: ‘Let’s tax them’. For what?”.
When asked if he is worth $150m, he said “For me, to have fortune means someone who has what he needs at any point in time. I don’t see myself as having $150 million stacked up somewhere. Whatever way they found their figures, I am only able to say I am blessed by the Lord.”

A national conference to debate Nigeria’s constitution this year proposed that the megachurches should be taxed. It is unclear if Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, who is closely affiliated with pastors,  will want to upset pastors by hitting them with a huge tax bill