Gov Zulum offers office, land for Tax Ombud’s North East headquarters

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has pledged an office building and land for the establishment of the North-East Zonal Headquarters of the Office of the Tax Ombud in Maiduguri.

The state was recently designated as the headquarters for the zone as part of efforts by the Federal Government to bring taxpayer support and dispute-resolution services closer to individuals and businesses across the North-East.

The Tax Ombud/Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Governor Zulum in Maiduguri.

Nwabueze said the zonal headquarters would strengthen taxpayer support services in the region and help improve the tax-to-GDP ratio of Borno State and the country, given the state’s strategic economic and revenue position.

He said tax disputes, including those arising from multiple taxation, were inevitable in a vibrant commercial environment, stressing that the Office of the Tax Ombud was established to provide timely, transparent, impartial and amicable resolution of disputes between taxpayers and tax authorities.

“While the payment of taxes remains an inalienable civic responsibility, taxpayers equally deserve to be treated fairly, respectfully and in accordance with the law as they fulfil this obligation,” he said.

Nwabueze described the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud as one of the key achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform agenda, aimed at building a fair, efficient and citizen-centred tax system.

Responding, Zulum pledged his administration’s support for the successful take-off of the North-East zonal headquarters in Borno.

He directed the immediate provision of an office building and other facilities needed to commence operations in Maiduguri.

The governor also constituted a committee comprising the Secretary to the State Government, Commissioner of Finance and other senior officials to work with the Tax Ombud on the immediate requirements for the office.

For the permanent headquarters, Zulum directed the Director-General of the Borno State Geographic Information Service to provide suitable land for the development of the regional office.