In a bid to promote a fair and citizen-friendly tax system in Nigeria, the Office of the Tax Ombudsman has urged Nigerians to channel all tax-related complaints through its platform.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Tax Ombuds Office, Dr. John Nwabueze, made this known while speaking with journalists in Lagos.
Dr Nwabueze explained that the office operates as an independent body, serving as a watchdog between tax authorities and stakeholders, including citizens, small businesses, corporate organisations, and foreign investors.
Dr. Nwabueze who stated that the office was committed to addressing issues such as multiple taxation and excessive tax burdens promptly, assured Nigerians who have become disillusioned with the country’s tax system of Ombudsman’s ability to bridge the gap between taxpayers and revenue agencies by receiving, investigating and resolving complaints through mediation and conciliation.
According Dr Nwabueze, the office provides faster and more cost-effective alternatives to litigation while also helping to identify recurring challenges in tax administration and recommending reforms to enhance efficiency, fairness, and transparency.
The Ombudsman further disclosed that the office is digitising its operations to improve accessibility nationwide, stressing that plans are underway to introduce a toll-free contact line and a dedicated website, with a resolution timeline of up to fourteen days for most complaints
“we are structured in such a way to that we have to stand as link between taxpayers and other key players . So when they come to us, we look at what the issue is and try to mediate and resolve the issue,”
Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary of the office, Mr. Chukwudi Achife called on the media to partner with the Ombudsman office in raising awareness and ensuring a seamless and efficient tax process for all Nigerians.
According to Achife, “Is an innovation that is introduced to make it easy for Nigerians to have their complaints about taxes resolved quickly and at no cost at all.”
“You can call us to report or visit our website to talk about your findings on any tax issue. And this matter is resolved promptly.”
“And you’ll be tracking the progress of the resolution.” he said.
Our Correspondent Martina Ogbonna reports that the Tax Ombudsman Office, established six months ago, has begun engagements with State Internal Revenue Services and other key stakeholders to harmonise efforts towards creating a more transparent and dispute-free tax environment.
Reporting By Martina Ogbonna