The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has urged the Senate to remove sections of the tax reform bills that conflict with Sharia law, particularly regarding marriage and inheritance....Read Full Article >>➤
The NSCIA made the appeal in a memorandum submitted to the Senate Committee on Finance on Tuesday. The council also called on the upper chamber to replace the term “ecclesiastical” with “religious” in a section of the bills, arguing that the current wording could imply the exclusion of some religious groups.
The memorandum stated, “The NSCIA, as the representative of all Muslims across the country, recommends that all major technical, political, and socio-economic concerns raised by different groups should be equitably addressed to ensure broad satisfaction.”
“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides for the establishment of a Sharia Court of Appeal to handle Muslim personal laws, including marriage and inheritance. Therefore, any section of the bills that directly or indirectly undermines Sharia law would be unconstitutional and should be removed.”
“The term ‘ecclesiastical’ used in a section of the bills should be replaced with ‘religious’ to avoid the impression that certain religious groups are excluded.”
The NSCIA further urged the Senate to pass the tax reform bills once its recommendations had been considered, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to submit its views.
The Senate recently held a two-day public hearing on the proposed tax reform bills, bringing together key stakeholders from the economic and financial sectors.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, assured that the process would be transparent and guided by national interest.
He stressed that the hearing aimed to review and reform tax laws to align with current economic realities.
The NSCIA, under the leadership of its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, is the apex Islamic body in Nigeria and oversees the affairs of Islam and Muslims in the country. ...Read Full Article >>➤