Leave tax reform bills discussion to economists, MURIC tells clerics

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organisation, has said economists and finance experts should be the ones talking about the Tax Reform Bills which are before the Senate.

The Executive Director, MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, said this as videos of northern Islamic clerics preaching against the bills trend on social media.

The bills, which have passed second reading in the Senate, are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 -SB.583; The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) BILL, 2024- SB.584; The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024-SB.585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024 – SB.586.

Some northern leaders have been opposed to the bills which will see individuals earning below one million naira per annum exempted from tax.

One such leader is Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State who said findings revealed that only Lagos and Rivers will benefit from the reforms to the detriment of the north.

At the second reading, the Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, faulted the speedy passage enjoyed by the bills.

Videos showing his opposition to the bills have since gone viral on social media, inspiring preaching by northern Islamic clerics against the reforms.

In one of the videos, a cleric delivering a sermon on the Voice of Sunnah platform said the reform will see President Bola Tinubu personally getting 10 out of 40 bowls of rice harvested by farmers.

When our correspondent contacted Akintola for his opinion on the criticisms of the bills by clerics, the MURIC leader said most people speaking about the bills are ignorant.

He said, “Few people understand what is involved. Unfortunately, I happen to be one of those who do not understand what is involved in the tax reform bills.

“I am not an economist. Please, allow the economists and finance experts to handle them.”