The Federal Government on Monday said Nigerian taxpayers can now resolve tax-related disputes free of charge through the newly unveiled Office of the Tax Ombud platforms aimed at improving fairness, transparency, and accountability in tax administration.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this during the unveiling of the Tax Ombud website, toll-free call centre, and case management system at the Stratton Hotel in Abuja.

Speaking on Monday at the event, Oyedele said the newly introduced platforms would make tax dispute resolution more accessible to 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 launch as “an important milestone in Nigeria’s fiscal reform journey,” stressing that a credible tax system must be built on “fairness, accountability, transparency, and trust,” not merely efficient revenue collection.

According to him, the Office of the Tax Ombud was established to strengthen taxpayer protection and improve confidence in Nigeria’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 the Federal Government’s ongoing tax reforms focused on simplifying tax administration, reducing arbitrariness, protecting taxpayer rights, encouraging voluntary compliance, and building a globally competitive fiscal system.

“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.

Also speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigerians needed greater awareness about the role of the Tax Ombud in the ongoing economic reform programme of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The minister defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, saying the economy had begun to improve.

Idris further claimed that Nigeria’s revenue performance and investment inflows were improving under the reforms.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, described the digital platforms as citizen-centred reforms that would improve public access and the resolution of complaints.

“The introduction of these digital platforms speaks directly to the need for more accessible, responsive, and citizen-centred public institutions,” she said.

According to her, tax administration goes beyond revenue collection and must also promote trust and confidence 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 Office of the Tax Ombud to ensure the new platforms remain effective tools for service delivery.

“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.

Earlier, Nigeria’s first Tax Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Mr. 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 forward-looking institutional reforms” under President Bola Tinubu’s 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.

According to him, the digital platforms would enable taxpayers to lodge complaints online or through 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 office was created to protect taxpayer rights and resolve grievances at no cost.

“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 noted that the platforms would help address delays and challenges in tax dispute resolution, especially for vulnerable Nigerians unable to afford lawyers or consultants.

“This initiative, we believe, will strengthen taxpayer confidence and also help us deal with the delays and challenges in resolving disputes in tax matters, particularly for our vulnerable Nigerians,” he added.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Tope Fasua, said the Tinubu administration chose “the road of reforms” upon assuming office in 2023.

He said the creation of the Tax Ombud formed part of the broader tax reform agenda initiated 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 were aimed at widening the tax net while exempting small businesses and low-income earners from tax burdens.

THE PUNCH reports that in June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed four sweeping tax reform bills into law, including the Nigeria Tax Act and related statutes that together overhaul decades-old tax statutes and modernise the country’s tax system.

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