The statement was signed on Monday by Chudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud/CEO.
Nigeria’s Tax Ombudsman will formally commence full operations on January 1, 2026, the Office of the Tax Ombud of Nigeria has announced.
In a release from the office, it was disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently appointed Dr. John Nwabueze as the pioneer Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud.
The statement was signed on Monday by Chudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud/CEO.
Announcing the appointment earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the office was established to strengthen transparency and accountability within the tax system, enhance confidence in tax administration, and provide a structured mechanism for the fair and impartial resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
According to Onanuga, the office “will receive, review, and resolve complaints about taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, excise matters, and other related issues in accordance with extant laws and regulations.”
He added that the office also has the power to institute legal proceedings on behalf of taxpayers at no cost to them, provide information on the functions of tax authorities, and raise awareness of taxpayer rights and obligations.
Reacting to the development, Dr. Nwabueze, in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, Chudi Achife, said the establishment of the office demonstrated President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to “amicable and seamless tax dispute resolution” and to protecting taxpayers’ rights to challenge arbitrary actions by tax and revenue authorities.
The Tax Ombud, who has over two decades of experience in tax administration and policy in Nigeria and the United States, said, “I share in the President’s pragmatic leadership approach. Establishing the Office of the Tax Ombud shows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ingenuity and foresight in reforming tax administration to ensure fairness, accountability, and efficiency.”
Dr. Nwabueze disclosed that his office has lined up a number of activities, including press briefings and sessions with various stakeholders, to inform Nigerians of his vision and plans for “a fair, transparent, accountable, and efficient tax justice system.”