Islamic Groups Warn Clerics Against Interfering in Tax Reform Debate
Coalition says tax reforms are technical economic issues best handled by relevant authorities
By Sadiq Abdulfatah
A coalition of Islamic groups has cautioned Muslim leaders and clerics across Nigeria against undue involvement in ongoing tax reform discussions, describing the matter as technical, constitutional and beyond the scope of religious intervention.
The groups, operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Islamic Organisations for National Development (CIOND), made the call in a statement signed by their National Coordinator, Sheikh Abdulrahman Musa.
According to the coalition, tax reform policies are economic and administrative issues that require expert analysis and due constitutional processes, and should not be politicised or framed along religious lines.
While acknowledging that Islam promotes justice, accountability and fairness in governance, the group stressed that these values should not be used to distort public policy debates or stir religious sentiments capable of creating tension in society.
“The issue of tax reform is a national economic matter that affects all Nigerians, regardless of faith or ethnicity. It requires stakeholder engagement, technical expertise and constitutional procedures, not emotional or sectarian interventions,” the statement said.
CIOND expressed concern that recent comments by some religious figures could mislead the public and generate unnecessary suspicion around government policies aimed at improving revenue generation and economic stability.
The coalition warned that such pronouncements risk inflaming religious sensitivities and distracting from informed discussions needed to address Nigeria’s economic challenges.
It therefore urged Muslim leaders to concentrate on their core roles of moral guidance, peacebuilding and promoting social harmony, rather than making public declarations on complex fiscal policies outside their areas of competence.
The group concluded by calling for restraint, dialogue and responsible engagement in national issues to safeguard unity and peaceful coexistence in the country.
Source: Daily Post
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