Follow Us on Google
The Office of the Tax Ombud has stepped up efforts to protect taxpayers’ rights and promote fairness, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s tax administration system.
The Tax Ombud/Chief Executive of the Office, Dr. John Nwabueze, said the organisation was intensifying efforts to raise public awareness about its mandate and services, while strengthening staff capacity to ensure effective resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
Nwabueze spoke at the opening of a three-day management retreat of the Office in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, where he reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to providing taxpayers with an independent and impartial platform to seek redress without unnecessary delays or financial burden.
He disclosed that discussions were underway to establish a partnership with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) to extend the Tax Ombud’s services to every local government area in the country.
According to him, the initiative is part of efforts to ensure that taxpayers across the country have access to the Office and can easily lodge complaints against revenue authorities.
Nwabueze said the establishment of the Office was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of strengthening tax administration through effective mediation and prompt, amicable resolution of disputes.
He stressed that public confidence was central to building an efficient and sustainable revenue system, adding that the success of the Office would be measured not only by the number of complaints resolved but also by the trust it inspires in the tax system.
“The ultimate measure of our success is not simply the number of cases we resolve, but the confidence we build, the trust we restore and the positive difference we make in the relationship between taxpayers and revenue authorities,” he said.
He charged staff to uphold discipline, diligence and courtesy in the discharge of their duties, noting that the organisation must remain committed to protecting taxpayer rights.
In his remarks, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Emem Almond Bob, commended the Federal Government’s tax reforms, saying they were designed not only to improve revenue generation but also to address longstanding challenges in tax administration.
Eno, who thanked the Office for choosing the state for its retreat, said his administration was implementing measures to promote enterprise, improve the business environment and ease the burden of doing business.
He identified the introduction of the Treasury Single Account and a consolidated tax collection system as some of the initiatives being pursued to strengthen public financial management and revenue administration.
The governor also urged the Tax Ombud to establish a presence in Akwa Ibom, pledging his administration’s support to ensure residents could access its services.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Okon Okon, described the Office of the Tax Ombud as an important institution for promoting fairness, trust and harmony in the country’s tax administration system.
He highlighted that the services of the Tax Ombud were provided free of charge, describing this as a relief to taxpayers and revenue authorities seeking an impartial platform for resolving tax-related grievances.
The three-day retreat, themed, “Leading with Purpose: Strengthening Leadership and Delivering Sustainable Excellence,” is expected to strengthen institutional leadership, improve management coordination and enhance the Office’s capacity to deliver on its mandate of protecting taxpayer rights.
