The federal government has announced that Nigerians can now resolve tax-related disputes free of charge, following the launch of digital platforms under the newly established office of the tax ombud.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this on Monday, during the unveiling of the tax ombud website, toll-free call centre and case management system in Abuja.
According to Oyedele, the platforms are designed to make tax dispute resolution easier and more accessible for taxpayers across the country without financial barriers.
“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 initiative as a key step in Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal reform programme, stressing that a credible tax system must be built on fairness, accountability, transparency and public trust, rather than aggressive revenue collection alone.
Oyedele explained that the office of the tax ombud was created to protect taxpayers and improve confidence in the country’s tax administration framework.
Key Highlights:
- The Federal Government has launched digital platforms under the Office of the Tax Ombud, allowing Nigerians to resolve tax disputes free of charge through a website, toll-free call centre and case management system.
- Taiwo Oyedele said the initiative is aimed at making tax dispute resolution more accessible, transparent and efficient without administrative delays or legal costs.
- The Tax Ombud office was established under the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria Establishment Act 2025 to serve as an independent body for handling taxpayer complaints, mediation and alternative dispute resolution.
- Officials said the platforms will enable taxpayers to file complaints online, track cases in real time and avoid lengthy court battles, especially benefiting low-income citizens and small businesses.
- Government officials, including Mohammed Idris and Tope Fasua, described the initiative as part of the Tinubu administration’s broader fiscal and tax reform agenda focused on improving trust, voluntary compliance and economic competitiveness.
“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,” he stated.
The minister added that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s wider tax reform agenda aimed at simplifying tax administration, reducing arbitrary enforcement, encouraging voluntary compliance and strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal competitiveness.
“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,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigerians needed greater awareness about the role of the tax ombud within the economic reform programme of the Tinubu administration.
Idris defended the federal government’s economic reforms, claiming that the country’s economy, revenue generation and investment inflows had begun to improve under the current policies.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, described the digital platforms as citizen-focused reforms intended to improve access to public services and complaints resolution.
“The introduction of these digital platforms speaks directly to the need for more accessible, responsive, and citizen-centred public institutions,” she said.
Walson-Jack argued that tax administration should not be limited to revenue collection alone but must also strengthen trust in government 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 added.
She urged the office of the tax ombud to ensure the platforms remain functional and responsive.
“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 said.
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 improve fairness, transparency and efficiency in tax administration.
He described the initiative as one of the most ambitious institutional reforms introduced under the Tinubu administration.
“The office of the Tax Ombud was, therefore, created as an independent and impartial institution to provide taxpayers with accessible, timely, cost-effective mechanisms for addressing complaints, resolving disputes, and promoting voluntary tax compliance,” Nwabueze said.
According to him, the digital platforms would allow Nigerians to file complaints online or through the toll-free call centre, track their cases in real time and access mediation services without lengthy court battles.
“Our mandate is clear: to serve as a trusted bridge between taxpayers and revenue authorities through mediation, conciliation, stakeholder engagement, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that reduce the burden of prolonged litigation and enhance institutional efficiency,” he added.
The Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Olusegun Adesokan, said the office was specifically created to help citizens resolve tax grievances without legal costs.
“We have created an office where people can go to, and this office will mediate between the citizens and whatever authority that they have issues with at no cost to them,” Adesokan stated.
Read also:
- Oyedele admits errors in Tax Reform.Acts, promises urgent fix
- From Tax Policy to National Strategy: Taiwo Oyedele’s appointment, its potential impact on Nigeria’s economy
- From Taxes to Towing: How Court verdict exposes years of AMAC controversial collections
He noted that the initiative would particularly benefit vulnerable Nigerians unable to afford lawyers or tax consultants.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, Tope Fasua, said the tax ombud forms part of the broader fiscal reforms initiated by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee after Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
“The tax ombud is meant to be a go-between, the first point of call where you would go to resolve tax issues,” Fasua said.
He added that the reforms were also aimed at expanding the tax net while shielding small businesses and low-income earners from excessive tax burdens.
