The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has recommended passage of tax reform bills before the National Assembly and expressed its commitment to constructive engagement in national policy formulation and legislative reforms.
The apex Islamic body in Nigeria made the recommendation in its memorandum presented at the public hearing on the Tax Reform Bills by the Senate Committee on Financial by the NSCIA’s Head, Legal Unit, Barrister Haroun Eze, who doubles as one of the Imams of the National Mosque, Abuja.
The in memorandum, made available to Tribune Online, the NSCIA which stated that it only got to know about the public hearing through a media items on Monday, February 24, it was making its recommendations considering the importance of the Bills in question to Nigerians, particularly the Muslim Ummah.
It then recommended that all major technical and political-socio issues raised by different sections and segments of the country should be diligently considered equitably addressed to the satisfaction of almost.
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It added that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides for the establishment of Shariah Court of Appeal for Muslim personal laws which include marriage and inheritance and as such stated that all sections of the Bills that may directly or indirectly impugn on the law on Shariah would be unconstitutional and should therefore be removed.
According to the Nigerian apex Islamic body, “The NSCIA, as the representative of all Muslims from all parts of the country, recommends that all the major technical and political-socio issues raised by different sections and segments of the country should be diligently considered equitably addressed to the satisfaction of almost, if not, all segments of the country.
“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides for the establishment of Shariah Court of Appeal for Muslim personal laws which include marriage and inheritance.
“Therefore, all sections of the bills that may directly or indirectly impugn on the law on Shariah would be unconstitutional and should therefore be removed.
“The term “ecclesiastical” used in a section of the Bills should be changed to “religious” in order not to give the impression that it excluded some religious group.”
It then stated that taken all it’s recommendations into consideration, “the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs recommends the passage of the Bills.
“While we appreciate the opportunity to make this submission, the Council remains committed to constructive engagement in national policy formulation and legislative reforms.”
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