Dr John Nwabueze (right) discussing with Mr Olusegun Adesokan, Executive Secretary of Joint Revenue Board at the event
Nigeria’s Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, has reaffirmed his readiness to work closely with tax and revenue authorities across federal and subnational levels to enhance operational efficiency.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, Dr. Nwabueze gave the assurance while addressing participants at the 159th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) in Lagos.
The JRB is made up of the Revenue Boards of the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory Revenue Service (FCTRS), as well as other tax and revenue-generating agencies nationwide.
Speaking on the topic, “The role of the Tax Ombud in facilitating dispute resolution and strengthening trust in the tax system in the context of emerging tax reforms,” Dr. Nwabueze described the Office of the Tax Ombud as one of the country’s most notable institutional innovations. He noted that it was established as an independent and impartial body to protect taxpayer rights and promote administrative justice within the tax and revenue framework.
He explained that the Office serves as an intermediary between taxpayers and revenue authorities by receiving and investigating complaints, as well as facilitating resolution through mediation and conciliation.
According to him, these approaches offer faster, more cost-effective and less adversarial alternatives to litigation. Beyond dispute resolution, he added that the Office also identifies recurring challenges in tax administration and proposes reforms aimed at improving efficiency, fairness and transparency.
Dr. Nwabueze further stated that the Office enhances public confidence by providing an independent platform for resolving taxpayer grievances without the high costs associated with court processes.
He outlined its distinctive features to include impartial mediation, a watchdog role against arbitrary fiscal policies, taxpayer rights education, accountability mechanisms and systemic improvements.
He however emphasised that the Office of the Tax Ombud ” does not determine tax liability nor does it replace the courts or the Tax Appeal Tribunal” but rather focused on ensuring that tax administration is conducted in a fair transparent and accountable manner”.
“The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is a bold and progressive effort to harmonize revenue systems, expand the tax base and improve compliance”, he further stated.
Acknowledging that reforms often present challenges, Dr. Nwabueze noted that the Office plays a vital role in addressing friction points within the evolving tax regime, fostering confidence and compliance while supporting revenue authorities in improving operational efficiency.
He said: “The OTO helps to ensure that compliance with the new tax laws is driven not by fear or coercion, but by trust and understanding.”
He therefore sued for collaboration and partnership between the OTO and tax authorities, noting that Nigeria’s revenue administration depended on the seamless integration of all tax and revenue components with the OTO as a critical pillar in the ecosystem.
He urged all revenue generating agencies at the federal state and local governments to prioritize inclusion by integrating the OTO into national and subnational tax engagements and policy dialogues.
