University Don: Every Mega Church Should Pay Tax

The Anglican Church, Catholic Church and Pentecostal Churches with large populations of members, should begin to pay tax to the Federal Government, a university don, Professor Bariyima Kiabel has said.

Kiabel, a Professor of Accounting and Director, Entrepreneurship Development Centre at the Rivers State University (RSU), said this on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 while delivering RSU’s 115th Inaugural Lecture at the institution’s campus in Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking on the theme of the lecture: “Re-Engineering the Tax System: So Much Haunting, Too Little Catch”, the academic pointed out that those mega churches should be taxed, as some of them are individually or family owned, hence they should join in the taxation policy, stressing that “even churches are to pay taxes if the system will be regenerated”.

“Some of these churches are family owned and they are making money, and according to the tax laws, families are also paying tax, they should give a little from what they have, to help the society.”

He highlighted the need for a general tax reform, saying that although the chances of its effectiveness is far-fetched, it would be a source of generating significant revenue which forms the thrust of his lecture.

Speaking with Kristina Reports, the Professor of Accounting informed of so many tax incentives and Nigeria, amongst the other countries, seems to have the lowest tax ratio of 7.9 percent.

“The reforms are not to increase revenue, we’re not here to tax the poor, but for the economic development of the country which will in the long run, it brings in more businesses and so more taxes should be paid.”

He further informed that tax payment is not all-inclusive as those in the agricultural business are taxation free, saying that taxation is in the favour of the citizens and is basically revenue generation system, highlighting the hindrances to these reforms, noting that some sectors will be ill-favoured.

“It’s an indirect way of encouraging businesses to grow. If this taxation is not improved, it’s going to deprive the government of so much revenue as there are key aspects of the taxation which is geared towards revenue generation.”

“Take for example the customs, there’s a provision there that those import and export duties they have been collecting, they won’t collect again. And undoubtedly, it will be difficult as it’s a way of removing food from their mouths. How will they go on with the work they are doing.”

In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of the university, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Dr. Valentine Pepple appreciated the postulations of Professor Bariyima Kiabel, while eulogizing his academic strides.

“Dr. Kiabel has set a good pace. In fact, what the lecture is all about is what we can do to improve the tax revenue, how it can better the lot of the government and how best we actually get rid of corruption in the system.”