By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage— The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO), is partnering with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) to extend its complaint handling and resolution services to market traders and taxpayers in rural communities.
Tax Ombud and Chief Executive, Dr. John Nwabueze, disclosed this at weekend during a town hall meeting attended by representatives of professional bodies, market associations, the private sector, civil society organisations and the media.
Nwabueze said the office was close to formalising the proposed partnership with NIPOST to improve access to its services, particularly for taxpayers in rural areas and market traders who may face difficulties accessing existing complaint-resolution channels.
He said the initiative formed part of efforts to promote fairness, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration, while encouraging voluntary compliance and strengthening confidence between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
According to him, a fair and predictable tax system is essential for economic growth, investor confidence and improved compliance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), market traders and the wider business community.
Nwabueze commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Office of the Tax Ombud to provide taxpayers with an independent and impartial mechanism for addressing grievances, while acknowledging the contributions of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and other stakeholders.
He explained that the office was established to promote consistency, clarity and respect in the administration of tax and revenue laws.
The Tax Ombud described the institution as an independent, impartial and non-judicial body mandated 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 or shield taxpayers from their lawful 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,” Nwabueze said.
He added that the office remained open to collaboration and feedback from stakeholders, with a commitment to 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,” he said.
Representatives of the Abuja Market, the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), road transport unions and airline operators commended ongoing tax administration reforms.
They called for streamlined administrative processes, clear assessment criteria and effective channels for resolving disputes, noting that these measures were essential to improving taxpayer confidence and compliance.
The Office of the Tax Ombud reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to improve access to complaint-resolution services, strengthen accountability and promote a taxpayer-friendly revenue administration system that protects taxpayers’ rights while upholding the lawful powers and responsibilities of revenue authorities.
