Tax Ombud strikes to increase grievance companies to market merchants, rural taxpayers

The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is taking steps to increase its complaint-resolution companies to market merchants and rural taxpayers by means of a proposed partnership with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

The Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr John Nwabueze, disclosed this on Friday, at a stakeholders’ discussion board in Abuja on selling equity in tax and income administration.

He mentioned the Office was on the verge of formalising the collaboration to make its companies simpler to entry exterior main city centres.

The discussion board drew representatives {of professional} our bodies, market associations, the non-public sector, civil society organisations and the media.

Nwabueze described the OTO as an unbiased, neutral and non-judicial establishment mandated to deal with operational, procedural and administrative grievances arising from tax and income administration.

“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 mentioned.

He confused that the Office was not set as much as cancel authentic liabilities as a result of taxpayers have been unwilling to pay.

“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,” he mentioned.

Speaking on the tax reforms that started in January 2026, Nwabueze mentioned their success would rely not solely on the standard of the legal guidelines however on how pretty they have been carried out.

“Fairness is not a favour to taxpayers; it is the foundation of public trust and sustainable revenue mobilisation,” he mentioned.

He outlined 5 pillars of equity: fairness and proportionality, procedural justice, professionalism and respect, transparency and accountability, and safety of susceptible taxpayers.

The Office, he mentioned, is advancing a Taxpayer Charter to elucidate rights and tasks in English, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Nigerian Pidgin.

Since its institution, the Office has developed a digital grievance administration framework, stakeholder partnerships, taxpayer training initiatives and a devoted name centre. Its precedence now, he mentioned, is to broaden entry and strengthen operational capability.
“Our collective objective must be to move from disputes to solutions, from administrative friction to constructive engagement, and from distrust to confidence,” he added.

Representatives of the Abuja Market, the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, highway transport unions and airline operators recommended the reforms.

They known as for streamlined administrative processes, clear evaluation standards and efficient channels for resolving disputes.