Shariah Council Rejects Tax Reforms, Wants INEC Chair Removed

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has demanded the immediate removal and prosecution of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan

It warned that the Muslim Ummah will not recognise or legitimise any election conducted under what it described as compromised leadership.

The council also rejected the ongoing tax reforms, opposed any move to establish a foreign military base on Nigerian soil and raised concerns over insecurity, federal appointments, budget implementation and alleged attempts to remove Shari’ah provisions from the Constitution.

These positions were outlined by the council’s president, Sheikh Bashir Aliyu Umar, during the 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly of the SCSN held in Abuja.

Addressing scholars, traditional rulers, Islamic organisations and government representatives, Umar said allegations regarding the antecedents of the INEC chairman, including claims of treason and divisive propaganda, had eroded public trust in the electoral process.

“No election conducted under a cloud of compromised integrity can be recognised as credible,” he declared.

On economic reforms, the council criticised the federal government’s tax reform initiatives, calling them unjust and burdensome for ordinary Nigerians.

Umar accused some officials in the executive arm of unconstitutionally altering bills passed by the National Assembly and called for a forensic review of all laws passed by the 10th Assembly.

The council also expressed grave concern over worsening insecurity across the country, stating that Muslim communities account for a disproportionate number of victims of terrorism and communal violence.

While condemning terrorism in all its forms, the SCSN advocated the institutionalisation of peaceful reconciliation (Sulh) alongside security operations.

Umar further rejected claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, describing the narrative as misleading and dangerous.

He warned that inflammatory propaganda could deepen mistrust and threaten national cohesion.

On foreign relations, the council cautioned against external interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs and firmly opposed the establishment of any foreign military base, stressing that national sovereignty and religious freedom were non-negotiable.

The SCSN also raised alarm over what it described as systemic injustice in federal appointments, citing figures allegedly acknowledged by the federal government showing that about 63 per cent of appointments favour Christians.

In his opening remarks, the Madakin Zazzau, Mallam Muhammadu Munir Ja’afaru, described the SCSN as a principled and indispensable voice of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, noting its consistent engagement on constitutional rights, justice, and national stability.

Ja’afaru said the theme of the gathering, “Nigeria’s Future: Faith, Justice, and Leadership,” reflected the urgent need for ethical governance, credible institutions, and responsible leadership as the country approaches another electoral cycle.