Tax Ombud to staff: Uphold quality service, integrity

The Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr. John Nwabueze, has charged staff of the Office of the Tax Ombud to uphold integrity and quality service delivery as the core guiding principles of the institution.

Dr. Nwabueze made the call on Monday during the induction ceremony for the pioneer staff of the Office. The programme was themed “Building Institutional Excellence Through Shared Purpose and Professional Commitment.”

He urged the pioneer staff to remain committed to effective tax dispute resolution as a means of promoting voluntary tax compliance, reducing friction between taxpayers and tax authorities, and significantly diminishing public scepticism about tax administration.

The Tax Ombud stressed that building a modern and sustainable institution requires discipline, punctuality, adherence to acceptable work standards, and strict compliance with the laws, regulations, and operational guidelines of the Office of the Tax Ombud.

According to Dr. Nwabueze, every member of staff has a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the successful delivery of the Office’s mandate, which represents one of the landmark achievements of the ongoing tax reform agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He noted that the reforms are aimed at building a fair, efficient, and citizen-centred tax system.

He further emphasised that staff must ensure taxpayers receive efficient, professional, and timely services. He added that the Office has intensified stakeholder engagement across the country to increase public awareness of taxpayer rights and the various channels available for resolving tax disputes.

Dr. Nwabueze assured the staff of a conducive work environment, quality training opportunities, and improved conditions of service, in line with the applicable laws and guidelines.

As part of efforts to improve accessibility and public engagement, Dr. Nwabueze disclosed that the Office recently unveiled its official website and launched a toll-free call centre and a digital Case Management System, all of which are operated by competent personnel.

He explained that these platforms enable taxpayers to obtain information, lodge complaints online or via telephone at no cost, and monitor the progress of their cases in real time.

The two-day induction programme featured presentations and knowledge-sharing sessions facilitated by experts and senior staff of the Office.