The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) today submitted a memorandum on the 2024 Tax Reform Bills before the Senate Committee on Finance. The presentation was made by Barr. Haroun Eze, an Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, and the Head of the Legal Unit of NSCIA.
The NSCIA, under the leadership of its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, highlighted key concerns regarding the proposed tax reforms. The Council noted that it only became aware of the public hearing through media reports on Monday, February 24, 2025, which limited its ability to prepare an extensive submission.
Despite the short notice, the NSCIA emphasized the importance of the Bills to Nigerians, particularly the Muslim Ummah, and made the following recommendations:
1. That all technical and socio-political issues raised by different stakeholders be equitably addressed.
2. That any provisions conflicting with Islamic personal laws, as recognized in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), be removed.
3. That the term “ecclesiastical” in the Bills be replaced with “religious” to ensure inclusivity for all faith groups.
While expressing its support for the passage of the Bills, the NSCIA reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement in national policy formulation and legislative reforms.
