Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has appealed to Senate to remove sections of the controversial tax reform bills that conflict with Sharia law.
NSCIA, in a letter submitted to the upper chamber on Tuesday, urged the lawmakers to address some parts regarding marriage and inheritance in the bill.
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 statement reads: “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.
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“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.”
INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the bill, which has become topical issue, has generated attentions across the country, with some stakeholders believing that it was created to punish the norther zone.
via: Information Nigeria
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