The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has formally unveiled the Office of the Tax Ombud’s digital case management portal, official website, and call centre for the protection of taxpayers.
The unveiling, which took place in Abuja, was also graced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack; alongside other heads of government institutions, development partners, leaders, and stakeholders within the tax ecosystem.
Oyedele said taxpayers must have confidence that when disputes arise, they will be heard fairly, treated respectfully, and provided with timely, accessible, and affordable resolution mechanisms.
According to him, the virtual platforms commissioned are particularly significant because they leverage technology to improve accessibility, efficiency, and responsiveness.
He said the initiative aligns with the broader objectives of ongoing tax reform, including simplifying tax administration, reducing arbitrariness, protecting taxpayers’ rights, encouraging voluntary compliance, and building a fair and globally competitive fiscal system.
The minister maintained that disputes are inevitable in any tax system, but what distinguishes a credible system is not the absence of disagreement, but the presence of transparent, efficient, and trusted mechanisms for resolving them.
“The establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud reflects our commitment to strengthening taxpayer protection and improving confidence in the tax system,” he added.
The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive, John Nwabueze, said the Ombud was created as an independent and impartial institution to provide taxpayers with accessible, timely, and cost-effective mechanisms for addressing complaints, resolving disputes, and promoting voluntary tax compliance.
According to him, the digital platforms will significantly improve the taxpayer experience by enabling citizens — individuals, businesses, and stakeholders — to engage efficiently and effectively with the organisation digitally and via phone while lodging complaints seamlessly online or through the call centre.
He assured that through the platforms, the Ombud would track the status of cases in real time and ensure timely, transparent, and professional dispute resolution and mediation services.
