Prominent Islamic scholar from Kaduna, Sheikh Abubakar Alkali Zaria, has vowed that northerners will not pay the new controversial tax scheduled for implementation January 1, 2026.
In a video circulating online, Mr Alkali said any representatives from the north who supported the implementation of the tax reforms will be dealt with whenever they return home.
“We are waiting to see who will come and make us pay these taxes,” the cleric stated. “By Allah, I am saying with a loud voice. Any senator or member of the House of Representatives who is supporting this new tax law will be dealt with once you are back home.”
Citing the removal of fuel subsidy which he said did not benefit ordinary Nigerians, Mr Alkali stated that the controversial laws contradicted the will of the people as obtained in a democracy.
“We are waiting to see who will pass this tax reform law. We sent you people to go and represent us. And democracy is for the people, by the people and to the people.
“And to you senators and representatives, I am congratulating you guys, because you will be beaten up. And when they say they removed subsidy, whose father did it help? So we don’t have any problem with anybody except those who signed that tax reform into law,” the cleric maintained.
Controversies have continued to trail the President Bola Tinubu’s new tax reforms since Abdussamad Dasuki, a House of Representatives member from Sokoto, drew his colleagues’ attention to alleged discrepancies between the tax reforms approved by the House and the version assented into law.
While several Nigerians, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Borno senator Ali Ndume demanded Mr Tinubu suspend the controversial reforms pending conclusions of investigation into the alterations, others called for the impeachment of Mr Tinubu over the alleged alterations.
In confirmation of Mr Dasuki’s allegations, the National Assembly, on Friday, ordered a re-gazette of the assented tax reforms over unapproved alterations to align with the version harmonised and passed by lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, insisted the federal government will proceed with the implementation of the signed tax reforms as scheduled, despite widespread criticism.
“The plan to commence the new law, the two remaining new laws on the first of January 2026, will go ahead as planned, on schedule, because these reforms are designed to provide relief to the Nigerian people,” Mr Oyedele said on Friday.
