Osinbajo: Why Nigerians Should Pay Taxes

Ugo Aliogo and Loveth Chinagorom

In line with the raging controversy over Value Added Tax (VAT), the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has appealed to the Nigerians on the need to be more patriotic and tax compliant in a bid to support federal government efforts to drive economic and infrastructural growth, noting that every person, especially those who succeed in their endeavour, owe the society three taxes.

Osinbajo, who made this appeal yesterday during the public presentation of a book on the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, W.F Kumuyi entitled: ‘Kumuyi: Defender of the Faith’ in Lagos, highlighted the three types of taxes as income, social and civic tax.

He also stated that the first tax is known as income tax or personal income tax and if it pertains to a company, it is referred as corporation tax or company tax, adding that the second which is the social tax is the obligation of the wealthy to give back to society.

He noted that the third tax was a civic tax; the obligation of successful individuals to write their stories, to share the histories of the phenomenon that they have become, in order to admonish the present and the future.

The Vice President further remarked that the fourth tax is known as Pentecost tax, meant for a successful preacher of the gospel of Lord Jesus to tell what they have gone through in ministry, which he described as a huge responsibility.
He hinted that through the biography, Kumuyi had begun the work of discharging the Pentecost tax.

Osinbajo added: “This book tells the story of the incredible work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Pastor Kumuyi and his ministry. By the grace of God, he didn’t only preach the gospel, but continues to preach holiness to a whole generation, he is also living a life of holiness himself everyday.

“The book is a story of how the Holy Spirit worked miracles through him and how from a Bible study group of 15 members in 1973, grew to what is now the Deeper Life Christian Ministry, at one point with 120,000 members, making it the third-largest single congregation in the world and is now firmly established in several countries of the world. I had an opportunity to read the book and every page of it is certainly worth reading, and worth reading more than once. I recommend it to all.”

In his remarks, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described Kumuyi as a great servant of God, spiritual leader, teacher and mentor to millions, academic and educationist, family man, philanthropist, and a patriotic Nigerian.

He said the book’s title was an apt way of summing up Kumuyi’s life and service, noting that the former don set aside a very promising career in the university to dedicate life to advancing the gospel, “and the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, with holiness as the central tenet of his message and ministry.”

The governor revealed that when you mention the name ‘William Folorunsho Kumuyi or the Deeper Life Bible Church’ anywhere, the first thing that comes to mind is holiness, an absolute devotion to living a life that is fully aligned with the precepts and standards of God, “an uncompromising commitment to be in the world but not of it, and to place God over and above everything else.”

He asserted that the name and reputation of Kumuyi and the church, was not built overnight, pointing out it was the product of many decades of humble, but energetic labouring, that God has blessed massively and continues to bless.

He lauded the cleric for permitting the writing and publication of his biography, and for sharing his story with the world.

Responding to the goodwill messages, Kumuyi disclosed that he was not aware that the name “William” meant “Defender of the faith” until many years into his ministry when an American pastor drew his attention to it after they preached at an event in Singapore.

The Deeper Life Christian Ministry General Superintendent challenged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ, while giving God the glory for all the wonders He has done for him in the course of the ministry, and also referenced John Wesley’s quote “Give me 100 men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God.”

Kumuyi added: “From this moment I want to be like Jesus. If you will make up your mind and tell God I want to be like Jesus; make up your mind and soul, say, ‘I want to be like Jesus, the Lord will make you like Jesus. We can start from our city here. We can start from our country here in Africa, and who knows, we can change the world.”