Tax Ombud establishes South East zonal headquarters in Enugu

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

Enugu State has been designated as the South-East Zonal Headquarters of the Office of the Tax Ombud, a move aimed at enhancing taxpayer support services and improving tax compliance across the region.

The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, announced the development during a meeting with Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, at the Government House in Enugu on Tuesday.

Nwabueze said the decision to locate the zonal headquarters in Enugu was informed by the state’s strategic importance as one of Nigeria’s leading industrial and commercial centres. According to him, the growing economic activities in the state and its contribution to revenue generation make it a critical location for the operations of the Office.

He noted that tax-related disputes, including issues arising from multiple taxation, are common in dynamic commercial environments, stressing that the Office of the Tax Ombud was established to provide timely, transparent, impartial and amicable resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue 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.

The Tax Ombud explained that effective dispute resolution mechanisms would encourage voluntary tax compliance, reduce tensions between taxpayers and tax authorities, and improve public confidence in the tax system.

Nwabueze described the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud as one of the landmark outcomes of the ongoing tax reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at building a fair, efficient and citizen-centred tax administration framework.

He also disclosed that the Office recently launched its official website, a toll-free call centre and a digital case management portal to make its services more accessible. The platforms, he said, would enable taxpayers to seek information, lodge complaints free of charge and track the progress of their cases in real time.

The Tax Ombud called for closer collaboration with the Enugu State Government to strengthen taxpayer protection, promote voluntary compliance and deepen public trust in Nigeria’s tax administration system.

According to him, the Office of the Tax Ombud is an independent and impartial institution established under the Joint Tax Board (Establishment) Act, 2025, with responsibility for receiving, reviewing and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, charges, customs duties and excise matters.

Responding, Governor Mbah welcomed the decision to locate the South-East headquarters in Enugu and pledged the state’s support, including the provision of necessary facilities to ensure the successful operation of the office.

He said Enugu was well-positioned to host the regional headquarters, citing his administration’s ambition to expand the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within eight years through private sector-led investments.

Mbah noted that the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud comes at a crucial time when the state government is intensifying efforts to block revenue leakages and broaden the tax net. He expressed confidence that the institution would contribute to improving tax compliance and boosting revenue generation.

The governor also commended President Tinubu’s reform agenda, particularly the ongoing tax reforms, which he said are necessary to drive sustainable revenue growth and provide government with the resources needed to deliver quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and other critical public services.

The establishment of the South-East Zonal Headquarters in Enugu is expected to bring taxpayer support services closer to individuals and businesses across the region while strengthening dispute resolution and promoting a more transparent tax administration system.