Office offers free complaint resolution, warns against tax evasion
The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is set to extend its complaint-handling and resolution services to market traders and taxpayers in rural communities through a proposed partnership with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).
The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive, Dr John Nwabueze, disclosed this on Friday, October 23, 2026, at a town hall meeting attended by representatives of professional bodies, market associations, the private sector, civil society organisations and the media.
According to a statement issued at the weekend by Chukwudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, Nwabueze said the office was close to formalising the collaboration with NIPOST to improve access to its services, particularly for traders and taxpayers in underserved communities.
The proposed partnership is expected to provide more accessible channels through which taxpayers can lodge complaints and seek redress over administrative and procedural issues relating to tax and revenue administration.
Nwabueze reaffirmed the office’s commitment to promoting fairness, transparency and accountability in the country’s tax system, noting that its initiatives were designed to encourage voluntary compliance, facilitate impartial dispute resolution and strengthen public confidence in revenue authorities.
He said a fair and predictable tax system was essential for economic growth, investor confidence and improved compliance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), market traders and other businesses.
The Tax Ombud boss commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the office to provide taxpayers with an independent and impartial mechanism for addressing grievances.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and other stakeholders to efforts to improve tax administration.
Nwabueze explained that the office was established to promote consistency, clarity and respect in the administration of tax and revenue laws.
Describing its mandate, he said the Tax Ombud was an independent, impartial and non-judicial institution empowered to address operational, procedural and administrative grievances arising from tax and revenue administration.
“Our focus is not only on the rights of taxpayers but also on their responsibilities and those of the relevant authorities. Our services, which are offered free of charge, are designed to resolve disputes, mediate complaints, and promote a transparent, fair, and consistent tax administration system,” he said.
He, however, clarified that the office was not established to cancel legitimate tax liabilities simply because taxpayers were unwilling to meet their obligations.
“We do not make tax policy. We do not encourage non-compliance, shield taxpayers from their lawful obligations, or perform the functions of the courts. Our role is to facilitate the fair and impartial resolution of eligible complaints within our statutory mandate,” he added.
The Tax Ombud said the office remained open to collaboration and feedback from stakeholders, pledging to handle complaints impartially while addressing systemic challenges, including inadequate transparency and inefficient grievance-redress mechanisms.
“Our collective objective must be to move from disputes to solutions, from administrative friction to constructive engagement, and from distrust to confidence. We look forward to continued dialogue with stakeholders to build a fair, transparent, and taxpayer-friendly revenue system,” Nwabueze said.
At the meeting, representatives of the Abuja Market, the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), road transport unions and airline operators commended ongoing tax administration reforms.
They called for simpler administrative procedures, clearer tax assessment criteria and effective channels for resolving disputes, describing these measures as important to building taxpayer confidence and improving compliance.
The Office of the Tax Ombud reiterated its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to expand access to complaint-resolution services, strengthen accountability and protect taxpayers’ rights while ensuring that revenue authorities retain their lawful powers and responsibilities.
