Nigerians have been warned that refusal to pay tithe is a criminal offence that is punishable, according to DailyPost.

Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministry made the declaration saying that those who fail to remit their tithes, (10 percent of all their incomes) to church are criminals.

Speaking at the church’s service in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the renowned pastor who likened tithing to payment of tax to government, said remitting the 10 percent of all incomes to church, is compulsory.

He said, “Tax is the government’s share, so you don’t say I want to give the government my tax, you say you want to pay tax, that is how tithe is God’s own. Leviticus 27:30. God is the owner of the tithe. So, what do you do?

“You pay, it’s only in Nigeria you don’t pay tax and they can leave you, in the Western world it is a big criminal offence, if you don’t pay tithe, you are a criminal, your offence is punishable, tithe is simply one-tenth of your income, 10 per cent of your income goes to God.

Pastor Ibiyeomie also argued that some Christians experience near success syndrome (failure at the edge of breakthrough) because of their reluctancy in paying their tithes, stressing that inability to pay tithe attracts curses.

He said, “Near success syndrome will not happen. If you’re experiencing near success syndrome don’t go for deliverance, you’re not a tither. Anything that I do, when it is close to manifestation, the thing will just go off, you’re not a faithful tither.

“Many deliverance ministries, they just go for deliverance, this is the problem, they don’t pay Tithe faithfully. Yet, they will say anything I want to do, when it is about to click it will just go off.

“It is near success syndrome. Correct it from tithing, don’t correct it from seven days deliverance. Hear this, tithe must be paid first otherwise the curse will remain”.