Asked about Forbes' estimate of his fortune, Bishop Oyedepo told Reuters that he doesn't know how Forbes arrived at their figure but says he's blessed...
"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."Asked if churches should pay tax considering how much they make, Bishop Oyedepo said;
"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?"
273 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 273 of 273For the tax I think he have the beat answer, tax is for the basic amenities for the society so since they provide that for themselves there is no need tto pay tax to anyone.
Everyone should pay tax whether government provides amenities or not. No bi so we dey tell our congregation member about tithe – pay your tithe and don’t bother with what the church does with the money! Remember, other Nigerians that pay tax are in the same boat…
Its a pity that when someone makes money through earthly means he or she is hailed as the man of the year but when God blesses his servant we manke noise and rant that he is extorting his memnbers.... May God forgive and bless this nation, bcos its ovbious we have all decied to bask in ignorance and Forget our maker who provides for this nation. If God nor punish most of this generation una go kneel down apologise to sodom and gomora because am searching for the diffrence till nor
if u dont no what to write pls shut up
You are right my dear Bishop.How did they arrive at their figure?
true talk, even me tax wey i dey pay tire me.tax ko tax ni
What happened to d one dey have been collecting 4rm individuals, company e.t.c. No be chop dem dey chop am, no gud roads, hospitals, electricity, education, maternal health care, e.t.c.
Jesus Christ said you should pay your tax Mr Man.
Yes o they make dia own roads nd supply dia own water
Y govt go tax dem mtshewwww
Happy thinking..
True talk, ur so on point
how do church get funds? from peoples offering and tithes . and these people are already taxed. taxing offerings and tithes is double taxing the people.. taxing churches is bullshit.. imho
For those of you opening your stinking mouth talking nonsense you better shutup that your disgusting mouth or else whatever you see you take.
Pay tax for what???
How 'bout for milking all that money off citizens of Nigeria who toil day and night on Nigerian soil, using Nigerian built infrastructure and amenities or better still if human logic won't cut it how about those famous spoken words of our lord Jesus where he advised to "give to Caesar...."
With all these ten percents creamed off everyone else wouldn't it be an absurdity dear sir if you are not somehow handing some miserable pennies over to the authorities?
Even criminals in a bid to pacify their conscience give generously to God and society at large. As a "man of God", "blessed" bountifully by Him you should demonstrably be miles ahead of all since to do otherwise will be tantamount to avarice, covetousness and plain ingratitude.
I go to church, I am not sure if there is a place in the Bible that speaks against taxing the church. But More to all my fellow Christian fanatics. Do you thing if Jesus was here in the physical form if any of these headline will occur
A pastor/church with some much assets and with an expensive School.
A Pastor with political association and controversy.
I am not so born again but please just answer YES OR NO and then conclude
Stupid Nigerians...to pay tax to your stupid government that you cannot hold accountable.... Awon Ode Gbo gbo....
I weep for Christians who some times out of ignorance support people who plot the disunity and downfall of Christinity.
If as a pastor who runs a church pays the tax or rates for my church building,pay my P.A.Y.E tax at the end of every month as an individual who receives salary either from the church or other work I do,been taxed on the goods i buy,pay tax on the businesses i own(schools,pure water company etc) WHY SHOULD ANY ONE still want to collect tax from offerings and tithe that is been given by parishioners out of their own free will ? They can decide not to give their offerings anymore and what happens to the TAX THE CHURCHES LAW? As a parishioner who works and pay my tax monthly,pay also the consumer tax etc,Why also do you want to tax my offering or tithe ? That will mean multiple taxation ! Is like asking clubs and village association to pay tax! Oh I see ! You guys are looking at the leaders of big churches and their flambuoyant life styles abi ?I smell jealousy and plot to stop the church from moving forward abi ? Even if they pay the tax,what will it take from them ? Them no buy,them no sell ! The tax we have been paying to the government all these years,what have they done with it ? May be na church own tithe go better nigeria ba ?
I pay my P.A.Y.E tax,consumer tax and other rates and bills like water ,NEPA and tolls.What has my tithe and offering got to do with this ?
God knows best...
May be that door nah for witches and wizard ..hehehehe....
Read this treading news below Joe...
Photos: this woman was beaten ,stripped naked in the public by wife and friends of the man she cheated with...you need to bread this...
i was once an ardeny church boy...but right now if i say i understand these pastors,then am lying....i believe in only Jesus
I believe you all attacking Oyedepo will one day become a member of his church. mark today's date.
You sound so frustrated anonymous 6:50 am. May God help you Cuz you sound like a messed and hopeless soul. Retarded!
Anon 10:02pm, please help me ask him! Was the government there when I had to sink a borehole and install 2 tanks for my business, were they there when I bought my gens to have electricity, or even there when we had to buy big dumpsters so we don't get fined by lawma or contribute money to replace drainage slabs, or pay security company. Nonsense...but this same government will have some FIRS/LIRS person come and hang out with you all day till you clear your taxes! So heated right now!! But we all have to pay whether we agree or not! So Mr. Oyedepo are you advocating that citizens shouldn't pay taxes??! Is that what you tell your congregation??! Very irresponsible talk. Oh yeah...all Oyedepo apologists...#kickrocks
Wow...isn't it sad that someone who should be advocating the rule of law is promoting abject disregard for said laws?
@Tanko kayode how do you know he is not helping his people, dont come out and say what you don't know silly!
Same way you are not expected to pay taxes, right? Ok...tell that to LIRS. Terribly flawed argument.
Thank you IBCL!! My point exactly...we all know Nigeria is less than ideal but paying taxes is the law. Period! We are all governments unto ourselves. If he perhaps said..."well, this is what the law currently states re: tax exemption of religious entities, please take it up with them." And left it at that, that would have been ok. Using wisdom, the same way Jesus answered when it came to the tax questions. But nooo...his response can incite his "sheep" against the law. Bad judgement sir. People are quick to forgot that the only way Lagos State was able to survive when their FAAC was being withheld because of beef between OBJ and Tinubu, at the time was because of taxes!
LMAO @ Winners Chapel Inc. #preach!
Ok...soooo, please hon, really just trying to understand you here..so based on everything you have said above, I will conclude that people like Dangote and Adenuga shouldn't pay taxes either right? Because, last I checked they have created several jobs, they donate heavily as well so....*shrugs* Really just asking...
Me too
Aheadahead9ja
This is a major problem our society faces today, we have on one side "Men of God" whose ideas are meant to make the society stronger because they have a lot of influence on their followers and off course they collect a lot of monies from their followers, but somehow we see them doing the exact opposite. It has gotten to a state whereby if one CRITICALLY analyses these religions and their "spokemen from God" you will notice they either do not read the same good book like you do on the life of their fellow Prophets/Jesus or they manipulate it in ways it always favors them, or they claim it is the "Voice of God". We must think for ourselves and decide on what is proper and not proper outside religion. Na "osusu" money people dey use dey proud, whereas these monies can bring progress to society. The truth is always bitter.
its pathetic when people make comments out of ignorance. the school and other institutions the ministry builds already pays taxes, they come up with some funny figures and say the church too must pay taxes.
They even provide all their amenities by themselves. its so bad that the road the leads to the church is unmotorable, they tried to repair it, they say they must give bribes.
its soo sad how Nigerians have been soo drained mentally that we think like slaves.
why not put up a story about mosques? because they are more violent abi?
The pastor is rich now! all hell break loose when he was working hard una no see am O! na now all of una dey find tax wey no lost. abeg go find better thing do!
God bless u. How much is he paying that he consider as additional money to pastors pocket. He is a fool and I pray God forgive his senseless contribution. The Bible says we should bring all tithes and offering into his house (churches) so that there will be food in his house. Some ppl pay 10,000,000 as their tithes and they are not even complaining. See ur foolish self am sure ur tithe can't be more than 20,000. Ode
People interpret the Scriptures they way they feel comfortable.
1. Who provides Security for the church or did he employ the Police or Soldiers that Guard him.
2. Who constructed the road to his church or did he also Make the tarred road in the state.
Paying Taxes does not necessarily means you benefit or the government must provide amenities for one. It is a civic responsibility which everyone has to comply with.
I really do not blame him for this comment, if the government where awake to their duties rather than looking for "Churches to pray for them" then TAXES would be collected from all.
You cannot hear that an individual does not pay tax in the US, try it and you will be Wesley Sniped.
Not sure how it works in Nigeria, but charitable organization shouldn't pay taxes. However, if Nigeria requires taxes from the church, the you definitely should give ceaser what belongs to him and God what belongs to God.
you also generated ALL!!! the electricity used during construction, you have never used power supplied by govt ba. You constructed ALL the roads that lead to your church from each church member's house.
I'm curious does this guy have any charities or foundations?
How dear u open your mouth to say rubbish. You re the crook, what has he said there that's bad u stupid fool, u open your mouth and speak I'll of such a man,God will judge u. Y should church pay tax, what has government done for churches. Nonsense!
PUHLEASE . The individuals paying tax, who provides for us? Me I have no roads where I live.
linda leave this man alone pls dnt let the wrath of God be upon you
CHURCHES SHOULD NOT PAY TAX. BUT LET OUR GOVERNMENT SEE HOW THEY CAN HAVE THEM TO DO MORE COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, ETC. LET THESE PROJECTS BE FREE OR VERY CHEAP. THAT IS MY MIND ON THIS. GOD BLESS NIGERIA
Christ paid tax,i pay my tax too and I have no road I provide my water most of my electricity just like about 95% of Nigerians so they should pay tax that's for all churches not just winners
This is just what am saying why dont we leave church matter and not sin against God. Linda dont let your reader put you to trouble before God because of their words to the man of God.
How oyedepo take resemble una papa?una go dey fool yourselves.... u ya'all better go to church and praise God not ur papa **hypocrites
i fully agree..... when the govt input is no where there??? tax for what???!
they make their roads, even make the roads leading to the church, give out loans to smes in communities around, help with economic growth in that area, the govt doesnt provide nada!!! so..... tax for what???! in short the govt should pay them tax, bcos the church is doing some of their work, pple say they do nothing in d society, pple say they r crooks, pple say bcos of the money getting in, they should be taxed...... but that is highly myopic in reasoning, even in developed countries, the church is a charity organisation that is free of tax!
not talking about countries that dont have our wealth ooo!
then for countries that are not even as wealthy as ours, and not as old as nigeria (in terms on independence) dont even pay tax! eg dubai, uae, now thats a govt thats working.
bcos these churches dont blow their trumpets dont mean dey dont do good.....
do u know winners provide over 1000 jobs in canaan land alone??? and nation wide do u know the jobs provided, the value added to lives. during theses crisis of ebola do u know how much they have given???
during the flooding of some parts in nigeria, one winners branch in warri, donated about 1000 bags of rice (or so) and tens of millions of naira, do u hear the news agencies saying that. Some of our leaders that spend alotta money on their student girfiends
and hundreds of thousands on drinks a night, dont do any thing, why are we not castigating them. now thats just one branch, and they all do the same thing, do the roads in the communities they are located and this isnt just winners, RCCG, daystar, etc just bcos they dont blow their trumpet dont mean they dont do any thing, they do more than the govt ..... so again .....tax for what???!
If the govt were responsible, they would even help support what the church is doing, proly by giving them land and an opportunity to do more and not to calculate how much they can get from them, and even the tax that we pay, which in my opinion we should be paying because we are even wealthier than the dubais and uaes, do u think the tax are used to do good? or they go to some corrupt leaders pocket????
just think about it
who is the real crook here???
once they see u r prospering they would come and harrass u with this fee and that fee, im sure linda, they have come for u too, just because u are making impact now they would come from mayb somewhere like alausa, and formulate one, 'blogging online license ' thingy.
y are we hampering our own progress, and some pple would just be yapping about with undersatnding.....
carry on jare!
aiwaxes@gmail.com
U guys here should know that all employers must pay tax!! Get that pls b4 u let people go astray
U be bozo. U just open ur gutter dey talk wetinyou no know
Well,in my opinion he didn't even answer correctly though it's part of it.May be because he is a man of few words in matters like this! The reason i said so is because I as a person pay tax already and i don't get any water,power supply or any good road either.I know he as an individual pays tax and as companies owner he still pays tax on his schools and other business but what he says he can't pay is the proposed offering,vows/pledges and tight tax and he should have made it clear that to pay such TAX is robbing the children of God of all they posses. Imagine say offering of 200,000 k might come to the church in a month and you take 80 - 100 k to Jonathan or fashola ! From my hard earned monthly salary given in the house of God as offerings and tithes and go come pack am. Wetin them one use am do ? the one wey i give them from my salary no do how about the one wey dem take from the businesses wey i own wey dem call company tax? weting happen to the one wey i pay for any goods wey i buy for market called the consumer tax ? how about that one wey i dey pay expecially to Lagos state for bein a landlord wey dem say na tenement rate? all my nepa bills,water rate,toll gate charges for V.I and the rest why dem never use am better my life? our crude and other natural resources wey plenty well well dem never use am better Nigeria na my money wey i give in the hose of God as a result of my magnanimity na him dem want to collect now abi ? God is watching !
Govt does not give me water, light nor security yet I pay crazy amount of tax monthly. When you leave that your estate, you drive on roads built with others tax contributions.
Religious establishments were meant to be charitable. The reason why they are not taxed is because they spend all they have on the society by helping the poor. That is no longer the case today so YES, they should pay tax too.
Jesus paid tax so why shouldn't he? Is it not in the bible that Jesus said to give to Ceasar what is Ceasars and asked his disciples to go and get a fish, cut it open and use the coin in its belly to pay tax?? Jesus was not rich, yet he paid. Is he more blessed than Jesus? Was Ceasar contributing to their upkeep in anyway?
Its not his fault.
Did he build the various roads through which he drives to his church by himself? Is he paying the salaries of the numerous policemen that guard his church? Teacher! Make you no teach me nonsense!
Did his primary wealth come mostly from high donors by 9ja treasury looters? And by the way, is Yeshua a wealthy man?
U pay such taxes bcos u don't know ur right. In western countries, almost all the life amenities re provided to d citizen, so dey tax. In nigeria pple suffer to get dem yet give is demanding tax. It's fraud
What happened to the tru missionaries? Free healthcare , free education and other... An average church member cant even afford there school fee..
If e de pain whona go and open ur own church fools
Hmmmm only if U̶̲̥̅̊ guyz knw Đα̲̅T̶̲̥̅ d richest man G̶̲̥̅Ơ̴̴̴͡D̅ want on dis earth are our spiritual leaders. They give their life †o him †o be his messenger, His tools, His mouthpies †o be used at all tym. If ur not happy with it beg G̶̲̥̅Ơ̴̴̴͡D̅ †o call U̶̲̥̅̊ or U̶̲̥̅̊ call urself and our stupid government want †o tax them F̶̲̅õ̳͡я̅ wat? This are men of G̶̲̥̅Ơ̴̴̴͡D̅ that use watever they v in d interest of our pple yet ur hear criticising may G̶̲̥̅Ơ̴̴̴͡D̅ forgive U̶̲̥̅̊ pple amen
Modupe
Rotten argument. What of every other Nigerian citizen that supplies their own water, rely on generator, make their own roads, Should they also say they wont pay tax? With the amount of church money going directly to pastors these days, i say they should start taxing them. Dont tax the one meant for church upkeep but definitely tax their salary and benefits
Some needs to come up with a "Turn down for what" YouTube parody ft pastor lol
Yall abusing papa will soon run mad. Jst wait n c. Smh
I don't see anything wrong in paying tax, Buh the question is what will they do with the tax been payed cox every1 in our government are criminals.
Then move your church to another country.
i supply my wter..eletric as well...i pay tax
Una dey fly go him church.....cos dat road statement no just make sense at all.....mtcheew. churches shld defo pay taxes once they start to generate over a limit.....smh....building schools that your congregation can't afford is not giving back to society.
hyhyhy
Thank u for spelling the name correctly. I was starting to get a headache from the previous posters.
why do we pay tax?the govt does not add any value to him and the church so why should he pay tax.
he never said HE doesn't pay tax, he said the CHURCH should not be taxed. For those of you that have leaking mouths and are using swear words on a man of God, i really really PITY you. "Touch not my anointed..."
Remember, curse not my anointed and do my prophet no harm. However, a couple of students in d landmark university are on scholarship, dats enough given back to the society. Afterall, tax in dis country is rather biased and does not fund anything. How many of you pay tax? Don't bring curses upon urself by insulting a man of God.
best reply ever
and its true
they did every single thing their selves so dey should not
sad thing is he doesnt read all dis sad comments from yall so get a life and go make your money
Are the tithes and the Seed sowers not already taxed by government?
What is the use of tax in government?
He has asked a viable question, pay tax for what, Government is neither providing any infractructural amenities to aid the church, rather the church is faced with the social responsibility of aleviating the premise in which they are located, and this they are doing, so why shld they give to ceaser, when ceaser is not willing to abide by his responsibility.
Story for the gods.
By their fruit will shall no them, but dis my pastor I can see him is not a crook as u people are saying u can say what ever u like, the end shall tell
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