The Office of the Tax Ombud has approached President Bola Tinubu for approval to establish six regional offices across Nigeria's geopolitical zones. This move aims to expand access to tax dispute resolution services and strengthen accountability in the country's tax administration system. The proposed offices are expected to become operational before the end of 2026, subject to presidential approval.
Since its establishment, the Tax Ombud has resolved approximately 82 per cent of complaints received, highlighting its efforts to address grievances between taxpayers and revenue authorities without recourse to prolonged litigation. The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office, John Nwabueze, disclosed these developments at the fourth-quarter 2026 breakfast meeting with members of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja.
The planned expansion forms part of the office's broader strategy to improve taxpayer engagement, strengthen confidence in the tax system, and ensure that individuals and businesses can access impartial channels for resolving disputes with revenue authorities. Nwabueze emphasized that the offices would improve the accessibility of the institution's services and bring its dispute resolution mechanisms closer to taxpayers across the country.
The establishment of offices across the six geopolitical zones would particularly benefit taxpayers outside Abuja, who would otherwise have to contend with geographical barriers in accessing the institution's services. The expansion would improve the speed and effectiveness of interventions by making it easier for affected individuals and businesses to submit complaints and engage with the office.
As part of efforts to strengthen its presence at the state level, the Tax Ombud also plans to establish dedicated desks within the tax authorities of all 36 states of the federation. These desks would provide a more direct channel for receiving and handling complaints, facilitate real-time engagement, and improve communication between taxpayers and revenue agencies.
The Tax Ombud highlighted the importance of cooperation with state governments and federal institutions in advancing its mandate. Engagements with state authorities have generated overwhelmingly positive feedback, and collaboration with the National Assembly and other relevant stakeholders has continued to strengthen institutional support for the office and reinforce its position as an impartial mediator in tax and revenue-related disagreements.
The office is also intensifying public enlightenment initiatives to ensure that taxpayers understand their rights, responsibilities, and the channels available to them when they encounter difficulties with revenue authorities. Nwabueze emphasized that accessing the office's services does not attract any fees, urging individuals and businesses experiencing difficulties with tax authorities to take advantage of its complaint resolution mechanism.
Key points
- The Tax Ombud has resolved approximately 82 per cent of complaints received since its establishment.
