Nigeria Mulls Taxpayer Bill of Rights to End Harassment, Build Trust in Tax System
The Office of the Tax Ombud will soon launch a Taxpayer Bill of Rights and Obligations Charter aimed at protecting citizens and businesses from harassment, delays, and unfair treatment during tax administration.
The announcement was made on Thursday in Abuja by the Tax Ombud and Chief Executive, Dr. John C. Nwabueze, at a stakeholder forum themed “Promoting Fairness, Transparency, and Trust in Tax and Revenue Administration in Nigeria.”
Dr. Nwabueze said the Bill of Rights was being developed to clearly spell out what taxpayers can expect from revenue authorities, and what is expected of taxpayers in return.
“Tax administration is not simply about collecting revenue; it is about building a system where taxpayers understand their obligations, feel fairly treated, and trust the institutions responsible,” he said.
“We are here to bridge gaps, protect rights, and ensure that the power to collect is matched by a commitment to fairness and accountability.”
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He explained that the Office was created to handle operational, procedural and administrative complaints against tax authorities, and not disputes over tax assessments which fall under the Tax Appeal Tribunal.
To make redress faster, he disclosed that the Ombud has a 14-day timeline to resolve complaints, with a possible 7-day extension. Matters that remain unresolved can be escalated to the National Assembly.
Dr. Nwabueze added that the services of the Office are free, impartial and open to individuals, SMEs, large businesses, tax practitioners and tax authorities.
“Nigeria is the third African country to adopt the tax ombud mechanism,” he noted, describing it as part of efforts to align with global best practices and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He added that plans are underway to expand the Office’s presence to all 36 states and eventually to local government areas to ensure taxpayers across the country have access to redress.
Representing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olufemi Olarinde described the Tax Ombud as “a bridge between taxpayers and revenue authorities” and commended its focus on systemic reform.
