Tax Ombud Moves to Extend Complaint Services to Market Traders, Rural Communities
The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is seeking a partnership with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) to expand access to tax complaint-handling and resolution services for market traders and taxpayers in rural communities.
The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive, Dr John Nwabueze, disclosed this on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 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 on the verge of formalising the proposed collaboration with NIPOST to make its services more accessible to taxpayers who may face difficulties reaching its offices, particularly those in rural areas.
He said the initiative was part of efforts to promote fairness, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration, while encouraging voluntary compliance and strengthening public confidence in 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 other businesses.
The Tax Ombud commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the office to provide taxpayers with an independent and impartial mechanism for addressing grievances without fear.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, and other stakeholders to the process.
Explaining the office’s mandate, Nwabueze described the Tax Ombud as an independent, impartial and non-judicial institution responsible for addressing operational, procedural and administrative grievances arising from tax and revenue administration.
He said its services were provided free of charge and were designed to resolve disputes, mediate complaints and promote consistency, clarity and fairness in the administration of tax and revenue laws.
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“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.
Nwabueze, however, clarified that the office was not established to cancel legitimate tax liabilities or shield taxpayers from fulfilling 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,” he explained.
He added that the office remained open to collaboration and feedback from stakeholders, pledging to address 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.
Nwabueze said continued engagement with stakeholders would be critical to building a fair, transparent and taxpayer-friendly revenue system.
Representatives of the Abuja Market, the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, the Nigerian 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 tax assessment criteria and effective channels for resolving disputes, noting that these measures were essential to improving taxpayer confidence and encouraging compliance.
The Office of the Tax Ombud reiterated its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to improve access to complaint-resolution services, strengthen accountability and protect taxpayers’ rights while upholding the lawful powers and responsibilities of revenue authorities.
