The Office of the Tax Ombud has assured Nigerian taxpayers of improved protection and fair treatment as it begins implementing guidelines aimed at safeguarding taxpayer rights, strengthening trust, and enhancing voluntary tax compliance.
The assurance followed a meeting held recently in Abuja between the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr John Nwabueze, and a delegation from the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
The delegation was led by its Chairman, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, and included the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Mr Olusegun Adesokan, according to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, Chukwudi Achife, on Saturday.
Welcoming the delegation, Nwabueze described the Office of the Tax Ombud as a newly established independent mediator and arbiter committed to promoting fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s tax system. He said the office was designed to help improve the investment climate and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, the office will play a critical role in bridging gaps between taxpayers and tax authorities by ensuring that complaints are addressed objectively and in line with existing laws and regulations.
Nwabueze stated that the office would actively engage the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other organised private sector groups to ensure that taxpayers are properly informed of their rights and obligations under Nigeria’s tax regime.
He said: “We will launch sustained public awareness campaigns to educate taxpayers on their rights and the seamless processes for lodging complaints. We will also engage the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other relevant stakeholders to clarify their rights and obligations under Nigeria’s tax laws.”
He commended the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms for providing a comprehensive operational framework to guide the work of the Office of the Tax Ombud.
Nwabueze noted that the framework is largely aligned with the office’s internal processes and strategic plans, which are focused on fairness, accountability, and transparency.
In his response, Oyedele stressed that the success of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform agenda depends significantly on the effectiveness of the Office of the Tax Ombud. He described the office as a critical assurance to taxpayers of the government’s commitment to fairness and the protection of their rights.
Oyedele assured the office of his continued commitment to providing the necessary support, particularly during its formative stage, to enable it to effectively discharge its statutory mandate and build public confidence in the tax system.
The meeting also deliberated on strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s tax system through effective taxpayer protection, enhanced institutional collaboration, and improved policy coordination under the existing Tax Implementation Framework Committee.
