You're playing scare-mongering politics - Agbese tackles Kingibe over fuel tax claim

Philip Agbese, the lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, has accused the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ireti Kingibe, of playing ‘scare-mongering’ politics.

This followed Kingibe’s claims on the alleged fuel tax.

Agbese, the Labour Party leader in Benue State, said the African Democratic Congress, ADC, senator wants to score cheap political points by misrepresenting facts.

The lawmaker, in a chat with newsmen, described Kingibe’s comments as factually bankrupt, insisting that no new fuel tax exists in the Nigeria Tax Act 2025.

He also described Kingibe’s claim of a flat 25 per cent tax on every citizen’s income as a complete fabrication.

“Senator Ireti Kingibe is playing dangerous scare-mongering politics with the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians. 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. 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 N50 million. The first N800,000 is taxed at zero per cent. Millions of Nigerians will pay nothing or very little,” Agbese said.

According to him, the claim that every Nigerian will lose 25 per cent of their earnings is either deliberate ignorance or outright mischief.

Agbese expressed regret that opposition figures are weaponising economic pain for electoral gain.

He added, “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?

“If she cannot educate the public with facts, she should at least stop poisoning the atmosphere with lies.”

He urged Kingibe to retract the comment and apologise to Nigerians.