The Federal Government has appointed John Nwabueze as Nigeria’s Tax Ombudsman.
The government announced this in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, late Tuesday, November 4.
It stated that the appointment was in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.
“This appointment aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to implementing far-reaching and sustainable reforms in the tax and revenue administration framework,” the statement read.
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Pinnacle Daily reports that the Tax Ombudsman’s office has been established to strengthen transparency and accountability within the tax system.
It is also to enhance confidence in tax administration and provide a structured mechanism for the fair and impartial resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
The office shall be responsible for receiving, reviewing, and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, excise matters, and other related issues, in accordance with extant laws and regulations, the federal government said.
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It added that the Tax Ombudsman is further mandated to ensure that disputes are managed in an efficient, impartial, and non-adversarial manner, thereby safeguarding taxpayers’ rights against the arbitrary or abusive exercise of authority by tax officials.
Nwabueze, from the Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, brings extensive professional and public service experience to the new job.
Before his appointment, he served as managing partner of a tax advisory firm, technical adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and finance of the National Assembly, and technical adviser to the chief economic adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among other engagements in both the public and private sectors.
Nwabueze holds a Doctor of Business Administration (Finance) from Walden University, Minneapolis, USA; a Master of Science in Accounting from Strayer University, Washington, D.C.; and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Mathematics from the University of Jos, Nigeria.
Pinnacle Daily can also report that the federal government has set up a tax committee to reform the Nigerian tax system.
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In September, the new tax reform laws were officially published in the government gazette, marking a major step in overhauling the country’s fiscal framework.
Signed into law on June 26, 2025, the new tax acts establish a new foundation for taxation, administration, and revenue collection in Africa’s largest economy.
According to the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, the new laws would modernise Nigeria’s tax system, improve compliance, and create a more business-friendly environment.
However, there are underlying issues in the new tax acts which have attracted concerns from experts and analysts and are being addressed in various fora by the tax committee.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
