Ireti Kingibe, Stop Misleading Nigerians with False Tax Claims in the Name of Political Desperation, By Arabinrin Aderonke

Senator Ireti Kingibe must stop misleading Nigerians with tax reform claims that do not reflect the law’s provisions. Political ambition is no excuse for distorting facts, and the desire to score cheap political points ahead of the 2027 elections must not come at the expense of public understanding.

Her claim that Nigerians will pay 25 per cent of their earnings in tax after the 2027 elections is misleading. It misrepresents the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and risks creating unnecessary fear among citizens who deserve to understand what the new tax framework actually provides.

The facts are clear. The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 does not impose a flat 25 per cent personal income tax on every Nigerian. It establishes a progressive tax system in which the applicable rate depends on taxable income. The first ₦800,000 of taxable annual income is taxed at zero per cent, while the highest rate of 25 per cent applies only to taxable income above ₦50 million.

There is a world of difference between a progressive tax system and a blanket tax on everybody. A responsible public official should understand that distinction before making sweeping statements about a major national reform. Presenting the highest tax rate as though it applies to every Nigerian misrepresents the law.

Timing is also a question. The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 commenced on January 1, 2026. The claim that Nigerians will suddenly face a universal 25 per cent tax after the 2027 elections therefore misrepresents both the structure and the commencement of the reforms. The new framework aims to relieve lower-income earners and improve fairness in the tax system, not impose a uniform tax burden on every citizen.

Senator Kingibe is not an ordinary commentator casually discussing an issue she has heard about. She is a member of the National Assembly, an institution responsible for making and scrutinising the very laws she discusses. Nigerians are entitled to expect greater care, a sound understanding of legislation and a commitment to facts from someone occupying such a position.

If the senator believes the new tax framework is harmful, she is free to make that argument. She can identify provisions she disagrees with, explain their implications and offer credible alternatives. That is legitimate political opposition. What is unacceptable is presenting a progressive tax rate as a universal charge and allowing Nigerians to draw an inaccurate conclusion about the law.

Senator Kingibe must identify the specific section of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 that imposes a flat 25 per cent personal income tax on every Nigerian. If such a provision exists, she should produce it for Nigerians to examine. If it does not, she should have the courage and integrity to correct the record.

As the country approaches another election cycle, Nigerians must be protected from political narratives that sacrifice accuracy for electoral advantage. Taxation is a key national issue that affects households, businesses, investment, and public confidence. It deserves informed debate, not sensational claims designed to provoke anxiety.

Senator Kingibe should therefore avoid making authoritative claims about provisions she has not accurately represented. Before speaking on a law that affects millions of Nigerians, she must read it, understand it and establish her facts. The National Assembly is no place for reckless assertions about legislation, and political opposition must never become a licence to mislead the public.

Nigerians deserve robust debate, honest criticism and accountability from their elected representatives. They do not deserve to be frightened by claims that misrepresent the law.

Senator Kingibe, stop playing politics with the facts. If you have evidence, produce it. If you have concerns, state them honestly. But do not mislead Nigerians for political gain. Public office demands responsibility, and no political ambition is more important than the truth.

Arabinrin Aderonke is an award-winning investigative journalist, 2014 Laureate, Wole Soyinka Investigative Journalism Award; 2016 finalist, CNN African Journalist Award; and a Technical Advisor on Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service.