- As FG moves to end multiple taxation, drive economic growth
BY COBHAM NSA – In a major move to protect taxpayer rights and promptly resolve tax disputes across the region, Enugu State has officially been designated as the South-East Zonal Headquarters of the Office of the Tax Ombud.
Aside from enhancing taxpayer support services, this lastest development is also expected to contribute to improving the tax-to-GDP ratio of both the state and the nation by bringing services closer to individuals and businesses in the geo-political zone.
The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive, Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, who disclosed this when he visited Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, at the Government House, Enugu, said the choice recognises Enugu State as one of Nigeria’s foremost industrial and commercial hubs.
Dr. Nwabueze stated that the state occupies a strategic position in the operations of the Office, given its expanding economic activities and significant contribution to revenue generation in the country.
He said given that tax-related disputes, including issues around multiple taxation, are inevitable in a vibrant commercial environment, the Office of the Tax Ombud was established to provide timely, transparent, impartial and amicable mechanisms for resolving disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
According to him, “While the payment of taxes remains an inalienable civic responsibility, taxpayers equally deserve to be treated fairly, respectfully and in accordance with the law as they fulfil this obligation.”
The Tax Ombud further explained that effective dispute resolution would encourage voluntary compliance, reduce friction between taxpayers and tax authorities, and significantly diminish public scepticism towards tax matters.
A statement by Chukwudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, quoted his boss as saying that setting up the Tax Ombud Office is one of the landmark achievements of the ongoing tax reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at building a fair, efficient and citizen-centred tax system.
Dr. Nwabueze said as part of efforts to improve accessibility and public engagement, the Office recently unveiled its official website and launched a toll-free call centre and a digital case management portal, adding the these platforms enable taxpayers to obtain information, lodge complaints online or by telephone at no cost, and monitor the progress of their cases in real time.
While soliciting strategic collaboration with the Enugu State Government, he said this would deepen taxpayer protection, promote voluntary tax compliance and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s evolving tax administration system.
He said as an independent and impartial institution established under the Joint Tax Board (Establishment) Act, 2025, the Office of the Tax Ombud has the mandate to receive, review and resolve complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, charges, customs duties and excise matters.
In his remarks, Governor Mbah expressed the state’s readiness to host the regional headquarters, including the provision of the necessary facilities, assuring that Enugu is a fitting host for an important institution such as the Office of the Tax Ombud.
Maintaining that his administration is committed to growing the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within eight years through private sector-driven investments, Governor Mbah said unveiling the Tax Ombud Office is particularly critical at a time when the administration is intensifying efforts to block revenue leakages and widen the tax net.
He praised President Tinubu’s tax reforms for driving the sustainable revenue needed to fund public services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, noting that the new Office will also improve tax compliance and boost revenue generation in the country.
