ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal Government on Monday said Nigerian taxpayers can now resolve tax-related disputes free of charge through newly introduced Office of the Tax Ombud platforms designed to enhance fairness, transparency, and accountability in tax administration.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, made this known at the unveiling of the Tax Ombud website, toll-free call centre, and case management system held at the Stratton Hotel in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Oyedele said the new platforms would improve access to tax dispute resolution for Nigerians regardless of location.
“Taxpayers, regardless of location, can now engage more easily with the dispute resolution process without unnecessary administrative bottlenecks or delays, and the good news is that it is entirely free,” he said.
He described the initiative as “an important milestone in Nigeria’s fiscal reform journey,” stressing that an effective tax system must be anchored on “fairness, accountability, transparency, and trust,” rather than revenue collection alone.
According to him, the Office of the Tax Ombud was created to strengthen taxpayer protection and boost confidence in the country’s tax administration system.
“This institution is designed to serve as an independent, impartial, and accessible platform for resolving complaints, mediating disputes, and addressing systemic issues affecting taxpayers across the country,” Oyedele stated.
He added that the initiative aligns with ongoing tax reforms aimed at simplifying administration, reducing arbitrariness, protecting taxpayer rights, encouraging voluntary compliance, and building a globally competitive fiscal system.
READ ALSO:FG Bans Cash Tax Collection, Roadblocks In New Tax Law
“As we unveil these various platforms and initiatives today, let these serve as a symbol of a new era in tax administration in Nigeria, one where taxpayers are treated not as adversaries but as partners in national development,” the minister added.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said there is a need for greater public awareness of the role of the Tax Ombud within the broader economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He defended the government’s reform agenda, noting that economic indicators were beginning to improve and claiming that revenue performance and investment inflows were on an upward trend.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, described the digital platforms as citizen-centred reforms aimed at improving access and complaint resolution.
“The introduction of these digital platforms speaks directly to the need for more accessible, responsive, and citizen-centred public institutions,” she said.
She added that tax administration must go beyond revenue generation to building trust in public institutions.
“When citizens and businesses know that there is a credible platform through which their concerns can be received, tracked, and resolved, it strengthens voluntary compliance and deepens confidence in the tax system,” she said.
Walson-Jack urged the Tax Ombud office to ensure the platforms remain efficient and responsive.
“The website must remain active and informative. The toll-free call centre must be responsive and professional. The case management system must support timely feedback, data-driven reporting, and measurable improvement in how complaints and inquiries are handled,” she added.
Nigeria’s first Tax Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, John Nwabueze, said the office was established under Part Six of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria Establishment Act 2025 to promote fairness, transparency, and efficiency in tax administration.
He described the initiative as one of the most significant institutional reforms under the current administration.
“The office of the Tax Ombud was, therefore, created as an independent and impartial institution to provide taxpayers with accessible, timely, cost-effective mechanisms for addressing complaints, resolving disputes, and promoting voluntary tax compliance,” Nwabueze said.
READ ALSO:New Tax Law Excludes Workers, Deepens Hardship – NLC President
He explained that the digital platforms would allow taxpayers to file complaints online or via the call centre, track cases in real time, and access mediation services without prolonged litigation.
“Our mandate is clear: to serve as a trusted bridge between taxpayers and revenue authorities through mediation, conciliation, stakeholder engagement, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that reduce the burden of prolonged litigation and enhance institutional efficiency,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Olusegun Adesokan, said the initiative would enable free mediation between taxpayers and authorities.
“We have created an office where people can go to, and this office will mediate between the citizens and whatever authority that they have issues with at no cost to them, at no cost whatsoever to them,” Adesokan said.
He added that the platforms would help reduce delays and challenges in tax dispute resolution, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians.
The Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, Tope Fasua, said the Tinubu administration adopted a reform-driven approach upon assuming office in 2023.
He said the Tax Ombud forms part of broader tax reforms introduced by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee.
“The Tax Ombud is meant to be a go-between, the first point of call where you would go to resolve tax issues,” Fasua stated.
He added that the reforms aim to expand the tax base while protecting small businesses and low-income earners from excessive tax burdens.
In June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law, including the Nigeria Tax Act, marking a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.