The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring taxpayers are treated with fairness and respect. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, made this known on Monday in Abuja during the unveiling of the official website, toll-free call centre, and case management portal of the Office of the Tax Ombud. He charged tax authorities to stop treating taxpayers as adversaries and instead view them as partners in national development.
A Milestone in Fiscal Reform
Oyedele stated that the unveiling marks an important milestone in Nigeria’s fiscal reform journey. He emphasized that a modern tax system must be built not only on efficient revenue collection but also on fairness, transparency, accountability, and trust. According to him, taxpayers must have confidence that when disputes arise, they will be heard fairly, treated respectfully, and provided with accessible, affordable, and timely resolution mechanisms.
“The establishment of the Tax Ombud reflects our commitment to strengthening taxpayer protection and improving confidence in the tax system,” Oyedele said. He described the Tax Ombud as an independent, accessible, and impartial platform for resolving complaints, mediating disputes, and addressing systemic issues affecting taxpayers across the country.
Alignment with Broader Tax Reforms
The minister noted that the initiative aligns with the broader objectives of Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms, which include simplifying tax administration, reducing arbitrariness, protecting taxpayers’ rights, encouraging voluntary compliance, and building a fair and globally competitive fiscal system.
Dr John Nwabueze, the Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, commended President Bola Tinubu for his visionary leadership and commitment to reforming Nigeria’s tax system. He stated that the Tax Ombud was established to promote fairness, transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the tax administration process. He described the office as one of the most forward-looking institutional reforms.
Modern Tax Systems Built on Trust
“Globally, modern tax systems are anchored not only on revenue mobilisation but also fairness, accessibility, and public trust. Our mandate is clear: to serve as a trusted bridge between taxpayers and tax authorities through mediation, conciliation, stakeholder engagements, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce the burden of prolonged litigation,” Nwabueze said.
He emphasized that the event was more than just a technology launch but the activation of a new public service architecture designed around accessibility, responsiveness, and citizens’ confidence. “The digital platform being unveiled today will significantly improve the taxpayers’ experience by enabling them to efficiently and effectively engage digitally on their phones with the organisation, lodge complaints seamlessly, and track their cases in real time,” he added.
Strengthening Public Confidence
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, noted that the launch of the digital platforms speaks directly to the need for more accessible, responsive, and citizen-centred public institutions. She said that by creating a toll-free call centre and structured case management system, the Office of the Tax Ombud is strengthening public confidence, improving complaints resolution, and enhancing service delivery to taxpayers and other stakeholders.
The Office of the Tax Ombud was created under part VI of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria Establishment Act 2025 to review and resolve complaints about tax, levy regulatory fees and charges, customs duty, and excise matters.
