'Taxing churches is foolishness'

Prelate and Moderator, General Assembly, Presbyterian Church of
Nigeria, PCN, Professor Emele Uka, has described the recommendation by
the delegates to the national conference that churches pay tax as an
act of foolishness, arguing that churches are not profit making
ventures.

Speaking with Vanguard shortly after the 10th anniversary and
dedication of Edibe Edibe Parish building in Calabar yesterday,
Professor Uka said as individuals and responsible citizens, church
members pay their taxes and wondered why anyone will even think of
asking churches to also pay tax.

Meanwhile, the cleric decried the fate of the over 200 Chibok
schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram Islamist sect, calling on the
Federal Government to immediately concede to the sect's demand by
swapping the girls for Boko Haram members held by security agencies.

He said: "America has swapped. Israel has also swapped. Afghanistan
also did the same thing. There is no crime in swapping the girls and
there is no price too expensive to pay to ensure the release of the
girls."