The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has issued an apology to Christians following backlash over an Easter message ad deemed disrespectful to Christian beliefs.
In the advertisement, FIRS stated, “Jesus paid your debt, not your taxes,” sparking outrage from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for its perceived insensitivity.CAN’s National Director for National Affairs and Social Welfare, Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (retd), expressed concern over the provocative nature of the message and demanded an apology from FIRS.
Acknowledging the public outcry, FIRS Special Adviser (Media), Dare Adekanmbi, clarified that the agency did not intend to demean Jesus Christ or undermine His sacrifice. The message was aimed at encouraging taxpayers to fulfill their civic duty. Despite the apology, FIRS emphasized its commitment to engaging taxpayers while respecting religious sentiments and promoting national unity.
The controversial post has since been deleted by FIRS, with the agency expressing regret for any offense caused to CAN and the Christian community.
