A fresh crisis is brewing within the ranks of the opposition following a sharp public rebuke by Hon. Philip Agbese against Senator Ireti Kingibe over what he described as deliberate falsehoods on Nigeria’s tax reform laws.
Hon. Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency and is the Labour Party leader in Benue State, has accused the Federal Capital Territory Senator, now of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, of peddling dangerous misinformation about a non-existent fuel tax and an alleged flat 25 per cent tax on all Nigerians.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Agbese did not mince words as he labelled Senator Kingibe’s recent comments on the tax laws as reckless, factually bankrupt, and a calculated insult to the intelligence of Nigerians who are already navigating difficult economic realities.
According to Agbese, there is no provision for a fuel tax anywhere in the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, contrary to Kingibe’s claims. He also dismissed her assertion that the Federal Government plans to impose a flat 25 per cent levy on the income of every Nigerian citizen as a total fabrication that has no basis in law.
“Senator Ireti Kingibe is playing dangerous scare-mongering politics with the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians,” Agbese declared.
“She knows there is no fuel tax in the tax reform laws, yet she continues to package falsehoods as fact just to frighten the people and position herself as some kind of saviour. This is pure political opportunism of the worst kind.”
Setting the records straight, the Benue lawmaker provided a detailed clarification of the actual provisions contained in the Nigeria Tax Act 2025. He explained that the Act operates a progressive tax system designed to protect low-income earners and ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share.
“For the record, the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 is a progressive tax system. The 25 per cent rate applies only to the portion of annual income above ₦50 million. The first ₦800,000 is taxed at zero per cent. Millions of Nigerians will pay nothing or very little. For her to claim every Nigerian will lose 25 per cent of their earnings is either deliberate ignorance or outright mischief. She should be ashamed of herself,” Agbese stated.
The federal lawmaker further argued that Senator Kingibe’s attempt to link the tax reforms to a non-existent fuel tax is part of a growing and disturbing pattern among some opposition figures who are weaponising the current economic pain of Nigerians for cheap electoral gain ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He noted that the tax reform laws were duly passed by the National Assembly, gazetted by the Federal Government, and took effect on January 1, 2026. Agbese said these are verifiable public facts that Senator Kingibe, as a serving lawmaker, is fully aware of, but has chosen to ignore while falsely claiming that implementation was being delayed until after the 2027 polls.
Agbese said Kingibe’s conduct was even more disappointing given her status as a ranking senator with full access to the legislative documents, committee reports, and technical briefings on the tax reforms.
“How does a senator who participated in the National Assembly process turn around and tell Nigerians that a fuel tax is coming when none exists? How does she look Nigerians in the face and claim a flat 25 per cent tax when the law clearly says otherwise?” Agbese queried.
“She is taking Nigerians for a ride and I will not stay silent while she does it. Kingibe should go back and read the Nigeria Tax Act properly instead of circulating half-truths and fear. If she cannot educate the public with facts, she should at least stop poisoning the atmosphere with lies.”
He warned that the opposition’s strategy of inventing and exaggerating tax burdens would ultimately backfire on its proponents, as Nigerians are now more enlightened and can easily verify claims.
The Labour Party chieftain maintained that his party would continue to engage Nigerians with clear, verifiable, and fact-based positions rather than resorting to emotional blackmail and fear-mongering.
In a direct challenge to the FCT Senator, Agbese dared her to produce the specific section, subsection, and page of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 that imposes a fuel tax or a uniform 25 per cent levy on all earnings, insisting that she should defend her claims with the actual legal text rather than viral rhetoric designed for social media.
“She should retract, apologise, and stop using the hardship of the people as a political ladder. Anything short of that confirms that she is more interested in 2027 votes than in truth,” Agbese concluded.
News Century TV reports that the exchange has exposed deep cracks in the opposition’s messaging on the economy, with analysts warning that internal contradictions could weaken its credibility ahead of 2027.
