By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage— The Office of the Tax Ombud said it has resolved about 82 per cent of complaints received from taxpayers since its establishment, says its targeting the opening of six regional offices across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones before the end of 2026.
The initiative is aimed at bringing the Office’s services closer to taxpayers, improving complaint resolution and strengthening transparency and accountability in the country’s tax and revenue administration system.
The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office, Dr. John Nwabueze, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at the fourth-quarter 2026 Breakfast Meeting with members of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN).
He said the proposed regional offices would commence operations subject to the final approval of President Bola Tinubu.
Nwabueze also disclosed plans to establish dedicated Tax Ombud desks within all 36 state tax authorities to facilitate real-time handling of complaints and improve communication between taxpayers and tax authorities.
According to him, the Office has intensified stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaigns through partnerships with government agencies, independent organisations and traditional and modern communication platforms to educate taxpayers and strengthen confidence in the tax system.
He noted that collaboration with state governments and federal agencies had been encouraging, adding that positive feedback from state governments had reinforced the Office’s efforts to promote fairness in tax administration.
The Tax Ombud said continued engagement with the National Assembly and other stakeholders was also strengthening institutional support for the Office’s mandate as a neutral mediator in tax and revenue-related disputes.
He emphasised that accessing the services of the Office was entirely free, urging taxpayers experiencing challenges in their dealings with tax and revenue authorities to seek redress through its complaint resolution mechanism.
Nwabueze explained that the Office provides an accessible and cost-effective alternative to lengthy court proceedings by facilitating fair and impartial settlements through constructive engagement between taxpayers and tax authorities.
He added that complaints that could not be resolved through the mediation process would be directed to appropriate channels for further escalation.
The Tax Ombud reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to building public trust in the tax system, ensuring accountability and providing taxpayers with an avenue to have their grievances addressed.
He said the planned regional offices, alongside sustained public awareness and stakeholder engagement, would improve the Office’s capacity to deliver on its mandate nationwide.
