Criticisms have trailed the introduction of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code by the Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), introduced by Bishop David Oyedepo, to enable members make online payments of offerings and tithes, as services are largely held online due to the pandem­ic coronavirus.

According to critics, the initiative was a misplaced and insensitive step as they expressed that the church should have followed the path of other church leaders and organisations making relief donations to cushion the finan­cial implications surrounding the stay-at-home directive by the Nigerian government in containing the spread of coro­navirus.

An online post in reaction to the new USSD reads, “New USSD for offering and Tithe in Winners Chapel. See How Much I Paid. *389*30*1# for all networks. This is Oyedepo’s contribution to fight Covid 19. See how much I just wired as my tithe.           

“We always think politi­cians are the worst people in Nigeria but Covid 19 has exposed these. While politi­cians are soliciting for fund for Nigerians, these pastors are thinking of how to empty us at this trying time.”

Another post reads, “Why should this be the priority of a church at this time of pub­lic health emergency?”

According to another crit­ic, “This is gross insensitivity and desperation on the part of Winners’ Chapel. Instead of looking out for the welfare of thousands of their church members who are struggling to survive and eat at this crit­ical period, the church is only concerned about how to fur­ther milk its malnourished members for tithes and do­nations…

“The judgement of God will be heavy and severe on Nigerian pastors. Is it too much for our mega rich pastors to sell their private jets and donate the money to Covid 19 emergency funds? Is it too much to temporari­ly convert the exotic church buildings to isolation cen­tres?

“The people I pity most are the gullible church mem­bers who cannot even afford to pay the exorbitant fees these churches are charging in their schools. Religion is not the major problem of Nigeria. The major problem is that Nigerians are very much gullible. The so-called GOs (General Overseers) are smiling to the banks. Jesus was never like that. He lived a very humble life.”

On the contrary, another critic, perhaps a member in defence of the church said, “I will surely pay my offerings, tithes, e.t.c. If it pains you just die, don’t wait for corona.”

But the church in its reac­tion, said it does not empha­sise or make it compulsory for members to pay tithes, offerings alongside other fi­nancial commitments.

The church maintained that those who attach rele­vance, progress and fulfill­ment to payment of tithes, offerings and seeds will not be comfortable defaulting in the payment, hence their request for USSD to avoid backlog of payment.

While treating the alle­gation that the church was “irresponsible” and “insen­sitive” with a wave of the hand, Professor Sheriff Fo­larin, a representative of the church, in a telephone chat with Sunday Independent, said the church has always been in the forefront of bringing relief to the public both within and outside the shore especially in times of emergency.

Folarin noted that Bishop Oyedepo is always reluctant to make public the interventions made by the church in differ­ent areas including construc­tion of roads, and huge relief donations.

He said the church founder usually emphasise that “what­ever anybody gives is between the individual and God.”

Folarin added, “Let’s rea­son together, tithes and offer­ings are not compulsory in Winners’ church, there is no time it is emphasised. There are people who have spiritual fulfillment in paying their of­ferings, tithes and working for God. Winners’ Church intro­duced giving with envelopes, because whatever you give is between you and God as Bish­op Oyedepo will always say.

“The church is a respon­sible church. Remember the intervention it gave to the people of Rwanda, Koma vil­lage in northern Nigeria and other things. We don’t make noise, the church is there for the people.

“The USSD introduced was demanded by members and the church gave in to their demand. For those condemn­ing it, I tell you it is not good listening to the noise of the market place.”

On what the church has in stock to contribute to help combat the scourge of the rampaging virus, he said, “we don’t follow the crowd. I can assure you we have our plans.”

Concerning the demand for Oyedepo’s arrest, partic­ularly by a politician over the church service of March 22, he said “it was unfortunate that politicians who milk the nation can make such irre­sponsible demand.”