Tax Ombudsman resolves 82% of complaints, targets six regional offices

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Office of the Tax Ombudsman has said it has resolved about 82 per cent of complaints received from taxpayers since its establishment, as it plans to open six regional offices across the country before the end of the year.

The Tax Ombudsman, Dr John Nwabueze, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday during the fourth-quarter 2026 Breakfast Meeting with members of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN).

He said the proposed regional offices would be located across the country’s six geopolitical zones to bring the services of the office closer to taxpayers and improve the resolution of tax-related disputes.

Nwabueze, however, said the commencement of operations at the offices was subject to the approval of President Bola Tinubu and the completion of necessary administrative and operational arrangements.

He explained that the expansion was part of efforts to strengthen the office’s presence nationwide and make it easier for Nigerians to seek redress over complaints arising from their dealings with tax and revenue authorities.

The Ombudsman also disclosed that the office was putting finishing touches to a multilingual online complaint platform designed to enable Nigerians to submit complaints and access information about its mandate.

He said the platform would be user-friendly and accessible in different languages to improve public understanding of the office’s responsibilities and make its services more accessible.

On efforts to improve complaint resolution, Nwabueze said the office was working to establish dedicated Tax Ombudsman desks within state tax authorities and other revenue-generating institutions to facilitate real-time communication and reduce administrative delays.

He noted that delays in correspondence between the office and relevant tax authorities had sometimes affected the timely resolution of complaints, despite the office operating a 14-day timeline for addressing cases.

According to him, the proposed desk offices would strengthen coordination, eliminate unnecessary delays associated with official correspondence and improve the efficiency of the complaint-handling process.

The Ombudsman further said the office had intensified stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaigns through traditional and modern communication channels to educate taxpayers about its mandate.

He added that discussions were ongoing with government agencies and other stakeholders to deepen collaboration and extend the office’s reach, particularly to taxpayers in rural communities.

Nwabueze emphasised that the services of the Office of the Tax Ombudsman were free, urging taxpayers experiencing difficulties in their dealings with tax and revenue authorities to seek its intervention.

He said the office provided an accessible and cost-effective alternative to lengthy court proceedings by facilitating fair and impartial resolutions through engagement between taxpayers and tax authorities.

He said: “We are dedicated to building trust in the tax system and ensuring that all Nigerians have their voices heard. With the proposed launch of our regional offices and continued investment in public awareness and stakeholder engagement, we are confident in our ability to serve the nation better.”