President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr John Nwabueze as Nigeria’s first tax ombudsman, a position created to strengthen fairness, transparency, and accountability in the country’s tax system.
The appointment, announced on Tuesday by the presidential adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, follows the provisions of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025. According to Onanuga, the move reflects Tinubu’s broader commitment to reforming Nigeria’s revenue and taxation framework to promote public trust and fairness in tax administration.
Nwabueze, who hails from Oshimili South in Delta State, brings decades of experience from both the public and private sectors. He previously served as a technical adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance, as well as to the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Restoring Confidence Between Citizens and Tax Authorities
The creation of the tax ombudsman’s office is expected to serve as a bridge between taxpayers and revenue officials, offering an avenue for ordinary Nigerians and businesses to challenge unfair tax assessments, arbitrary deductions, or exploitative practices.
Under the new arrangement, the ombudsman’s office will handle complaints related to taxes, levies, customs duties, regulatory fees, and excise matters, ensuring that disputes are resolved impartially and efficiently.
“The office will provide a structured mechanism for resolving tax disputes in a fair and non-adversarial manner, while protecting taxpayers from arbitrary or abusive actions,” Onanuga said in the statement.
For millions of small business owners and everyday Nigerians who feel burdened by unclear tax policies and inconsistent enforcement, this initiative could offer a measure of relief. By creating a more transparent dispute-resolution system, the government aims to boost compliance while ensuring fairness, a step that could ultimately reduce unnecessary financial pressure on citizens.
Economic Implications for Ordinary Nigerians
Experts believe that if properly implemented, the role of the tax ombudsman could have a direct impact on the cost of doing business and, by extension, the prices of goods and services in the market.
In recent years, businesses across Nigeria have lamented over multiple taxation from various government agencies, which often drives up operational costs and trickles down to consumers. By resolving such disputes more swiftly and fairly, the ombudsman could help ease these burdens, potentially stabilising prices and improving the business environment.
Dr Nwabueze’s appointment is therefore not just administrative, it could signal a shift towards a fairer and more predictable tax regime that benefits both government revenue collection and the average Nigerian’s pocket
