In Nigeria’s tax administration, President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. John Nwabueze as the country’s first Tax Ombudsman.
The appointment, announced on Tuesday, is part of the administration’s broader efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in the nation’s revenue system.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the appointment of Dr. Nwabueze was made under the provisions of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.
“The appointment aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to implementing far-reaching and sustainable reforms in the tax and revenue administration framework,” Onanuga said in the statement.
Dr. Nwabueze’s appointment is seen as a bold step towards restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s tax system.
The Office of the Tax Ombudsman was created to provide a fair, impartial, and efficient mechanism for resolving disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
According to the presidency, the office will focus on ensuring that taxpayers’ rights are protected while also promoting compliance and fairness within the tax environment.
“The Tax Ombudsman is mandated to ensure that disputes are managed in an efficient, impartial, and non-adversarial manner,” the statement noted.
“This will safeguard taxpayers against arbitrary or abusive exercises of authority by tax officials.”
Dr. John Nwabueze, who hails from Oshimili South Local Government Area in Delta State, brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors.
Before his appointment, he served as a Managing Partner at a top tax advisory firm and as Technical Adviser to several high-profile government committees.
His previous roles include serving as Technical Adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance, as well as to the Chief Economic Adviser under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Dr. Nwabueze holds a Doctor of Business Administration (Finance) from Walden University in the United States, a Master of Science in Accounting from Strayer University, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Mathematics from the University of Jos.
President Tinubu congratulated Dr. Nwabueze on his appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to perform his duties with integrity and professionalism.
“The President has full confidence in his capacity to discharge the responsibilities of his office diligently,” the statement added.
The creation of the Tax Ombudsman office is part of a wider reform strategy to rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s tax institutions.
Moreover, it aims to establish a structured channel for reviewing complaints related to taxes, levies, customs duties, excise fees, and other related matters.
In addition, the office will review and resolve taxpayer grievances to prevent delays and bureaucratic inefficiencies that have long plagued the system.
Government officials believe this initiative will not only improve revenue collection but also strengthen Nigeria’s position as an investment-friendly economy by ensuring a fair and transparent tax process.
The Federal Government described the creation of the Tax Ombudsman’s office as “a crucial intervention to enhance fairness, transparency, and accountability.”
