The Federal Government on Monday said Nigerian taxpayers can now resolve tax-related disputes free of charge through the newly unveiled Office of the Tax Ombud platforms aimed at improving fairness, transparency, and accountability in tax administration.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this during the unveiling of the Tax Ombud website, toll-free call centre, and case management system at the Stratton Hotel in Abuja.
Speaking on Monday at the event, Oyedele said the newly introduced platforms would make tax dispute resolution more accessible to Nigerians regardless of location.
“Taxpayers, regardless of location, can now engage more easily with the dispute resolution process without unnecessary administrative bottlenecks or delays, and the good news is that it is entirely free,” he said.
He described the launch as “an important milestone in Nigeria’s fiscal reform journey,” stressing that a credible tax system must be built on “fairness, accountability, transparency, and trust,” not merely efficient revenue collection.
According to him, the Office of the Tax Ombud was established to strengthen taxpayer protection and improve confidence in Nigeria’s tax administration system.
“This institution is designed to serve as an independent, impartial, and accessible platform for resolving complaints, mediating disputes, and addressing systemic issues affecting taxpayers across the country,” Oyedele stated.
He added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s ongoing tax reforms focused on simplifying tax administration, reducing arbitrariness, protecting taxpayer rights, encouraging voluntary compliance, and building a globally competitive fiscal system.
“As we unveil these various platforms and initiatives today, let these serve as a symbol of a new era in tax administration in Nigeria, one where taxpayers are treated not as adversaries but as partners in national development,” the minister added.
Also speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigerians needed greater awareness about the role of the Tax Ombud in the ongoing economic reform programme of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, saying the economy had begun to improve.
Idris further claimed that Nigeria’s revenue performance and investment inflows were improving under the reforms.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, described the digital platforms as citizen-centred reforms that would improve public access and the resolution of complaints.
“The introduction of these digital platforms speaks directly to the need for more accessible, responsive, and citizen-centred public institutions,” she said.
According to her, tax administration goes beyond revenue collection and must also promote trust and confidence in public institutions.
“When citizens and businesses know that there is a credible platform through which their concerns can be received, tracked, and resolved, it strengthens voluntary compliance and deepens confidence in the tax system,” she said.
Walson-Jack urged the Office of the Tax Ombud to ensure the new platforms remain effective tools for service delivery.
“The website must remain active and informative. The toll-free call centre must be responsive and professional. The case management system must support timely feedback, data-driven reporting, and measurable improvement in how complaints and inquiries are handled,” she added.
Earlier, Nigeria’s first Tax Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, John Nwabueze, said the office was established under Part Six of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria Establishment Act 2025 to promote fairness, transparency, and efficiency in tax administration.
He described the initiative as one of the “most forward-looking institutional reforms” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.