The post, which has been shared more than 400 times, includes a screenshot of an article from the Nigerian newspaper Punch. It features an image of a man in black robes holding a crucifix, and the headline reads: “Withhold tithes directly from workers’ salaries, archbishop begs government.”
The claim was shared by Nigerian singer Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, better known as “Charly Boy”. AFP Fact Check has previously debunked claims he shared (here, here And here).
Most commentators seemed to believe his last claim.
“A man like Peter Adewale is as insensitive as (President Bola) Tinubu and his gangs. He should therefore be ignored regardless of the title he carries,” wrote one user. Another asked: “Do these pastors care whether their congregations eat, order or milk (Like this)?”
However, the claim that the Archbishop of Lagos, Peter Adewale, has pleaded with the government to deduct tithes from workers’ income is misleading.
Ugandan Archbishop
AFP Fact Check conducted a search using the keywords in Punch’s headline.
This led us to an October 2018 news article published by Punch with the same headline and image (archived here).
However, the article told a slightly different story: it reported that the request to collect tithes directly from workers’ salaries was made by a religious leader in Uganda, not Nigeria.
The report explained that the Archbishop of Kampala, Cypriot Kizito Lwangashared this idea during a Sunday mass.
“When we ask for tithes, everyone gives only what they have at that moment. But the Bible says that a tenth of what you earn belongs to the church. Give me your support when I present this proposal because it is good for us. Aren’t you tired of putting money in the baskets all the time?” Lwanga was quoted as saying.
Before he died In April 2021, Lwanga said that his sermon was misunderstood (archived here And here).
“When I spoke about involving the government, I did not mean that the central government would impose a tax and collect it through its agencies like the URA (Uganda Revenue Authority), but I was referring to all those in administrative positions who are responsible for paying people’s salaries to help those who want to support the church, have their tithes deducted from their salaries and pass them on to the church,” he was quoted as saying.
AFP Fact Check was unable to reach Adewale for comment. However, online searches showed no media reports attributing the comments in the claims to Adewale, who installed as Catholic Archbishop in Lagos on August 4, 2012 (archived here).
Tithes in Nigeria
In Nigeria, tithing is a common church practice, where people donate a portion of their income, traditionally 10 percent, to their place of worship or religious institution.
The controversy surrounding tithing in Nigeria has arisen because certain popular preachers have in recent years preached about the dire consequences for those who fail to pay.
As the leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, said in April 2018: said that “anyone who does not pay his tithes will not go to heaven” (archived here).
In February 2022, Salvation Ministry Pastor David Ibiyeomie reportedly compared non-payment of tithes to a crime.
“You pay, only in Nigeria you don’t pay tax and they can let you go. In the western world it is a big criminal offence. If you don’t pay tithe, you are a criminal, your offence is punishable. The tithe is just a tenth of your income, 10 percent of your income goes to God,” Ibiyeomie said. quoted as stated by local news outlet Sahara Reporters (archived here).
however, the debate about tithes has grown in Nigeria in recent years due to several factors including economic difficulties, theological arguments over whether tithing should be mandatory in modern Christianity, and the extravagant lifestyles of some church leaders (archived here).
