Economist Urges Tax On Religious Institutions, Calls For Anti-Corruption Reforms
By OBIOMA TORI
ECONOMIST Daramola Omoyele has urged the Nigerian government to include religious institutions in its new tax framework while tackling corruption in tax administration.
In an interview on Wednesday, Omoyele warned that the 2025 Tax Administration Act—which introduced unified tax IDs and compliance measures—would fail if it exempts powerful groups like religious bodies.
He criticised the exclusion of churches and mosques from taxation, saying many leaders live lavishly while followers struggle. “It’s unfair that small traders pay taxes while religious empires remain untaxed,” he said.
Omoyele added that taxing religious institutions would promote accountability and boost revenue, noting that untaxed offerings and donations often exceed the turnover of small businesses.
He, however, stressed that without addressing corruption and restoring trust in governance, Nigerians would continue to see taxation as oppression rather than civic duty. “Fairness demands that everyone, including the wealthy and the religious, contribute to national development,” he said.
