NSCIA urges political leaders to ease tensions over Tax Reform Bills

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called on political leaders to de-escalate tensions surrounding the controversial tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.

NSCIA described the ongoing dispute as unnecessary and unwarranted.

The call was made at the conclusion of the NSCIA’s 10th meeting of the Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC), where a government delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu briefed Muslim leaders on the proposed bills as well as other related issues.

The meeting, convened by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, took place at the National Mosque in Abuja.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by the NSCIA Secretary-General, Salisu Shehu, the Council urged for “trust building, extensive consultation, and mature, genuine dialogue” to resolve the impasse over the tax reforms.

After extensive deliberations, the Council advised the federal and state governments, the National Assembly, and the political class to immediately deflate the current unnecessary tension and unwarranted polarization when what is urgently needed are trust building, extensive consultation, and mature and genuine dialogue on the tax reform bills before the National Assembly.

The Council also noted that Nigerians are suffering due to the harsh economic climate, and governments at all levels should address the concerns of the citizens by making the environment more conducive to business in order to hasten the ease expected from the reforms.

It, however, encouraged Muslims to get involved in harnessing economic opportunities that would boost their financial independence and explore innovative ways of empowering the youth across the country.

The Council also resolved to educate the Muslim Ummah on the need to standardize the informal sector of the Nigerian economy so that the huge contributions of the informal sector to the economy would be appreciated and acknowledged in planning.