President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. John Nwabueze as Nigeria’s Tax Ombudsman, a newly established position created to improve transparency, accountability, and dispute resolution within the country’s tax system.
The appointment, announced on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, follows the enactment of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025. According to the Presidency, the creation of the Office of the Tax Ombudsman is a major step in Tinubu’s ongoing fiscal and tax reforms aimed at modernizing revenue administration and improving public trust.
Onanuga said the appointment reflects Tinubu’s commitment to “far-reaching and sustainable reforms in the tax and revenue administration framework,” adding that the Ombudsman will serve as an independent channel for taxpayers to seek redress.
Role and Mandate of the Tax Ombudsman
The Office of the Tax Ombudsman will address and resolve complaints related to taxes, levies, customs duties, regulatory charges, and other revenue matters. Previously, such complaints were handled solely by tax agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and state revenue boards.
Under the new structure, the Ombudsman is empowered to:
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Receive, investigate, and resolve complaints from individuals and businesses.
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Ensure fairness and transparency in tax administration.
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Protect taxpayers from arbitrary or abusive conduct by tax officials.
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Provide a neutral platform to resolve disputes outside traditional enforcement processes.
“The Tax Ombudsman is mandated to manage disputes efficiently, impartially, and in a non-adversarial manner, safeguarding the rights of taxpayers,” Onanuga stated.
Profile of the New Ombudsman
Dr. Nwabueze, from Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, is described as a seasoned professional with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. He has served as:
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Managing Partner of a tax advisory firm.
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Technical Adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance.
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Technical Adviser to the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Finance from Walden University, Minneapolis; a Master’s degree in Accounting from Strayer University, Washington D.C.; and Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Mathematics from the University of Jos.
Tinubu Confident in Nwabueze’s Capacity
President Tinubu congratulated Nwabueze on the appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to deliver on the mandate of the office.
“President Tinubu expresses confidence in his capacity to discharge the responsibilities of his office with integrity, diligence, and utmost professionalism,” the statement said.
Part of Broader Fiscal Reform Agenda
The establishment of the Tax Ombudsman is part of Tinubu’s wider tax reform program championed by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee led by Taiwo Oyedele. The committee, inaugurated in August 2023, has been tasked with harmonising taxes, reducing multiple taxation, simplifying compliance, and increasing Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio.
The Federal Government says the Ombudsman’s office will help strengthen public confidence in the tax system and create a more business-friendly environment.
With this appointment, the administration moves closer to its goal of building a transparent, accountable, and equitable tax structure.
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