FG launched a free tax dispute resolution platform to protect taxpayers

The Federal Government has launched a series of new digital platforms designed to enable Nigerians to resolve tax-related disputes free of charge as part of ongoing reforms aimed at increasing transparency, accountability and trust in the country’s tax administration system.

The platform, introduced through the Office of the Tax Ombud, includes a dedicated website, a toll-free call center and a digital case management system intended to make tax complaint resolution more accessible across the country.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Stratton Hotel in Abuja on Monday, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the initiative marked a major step in Nigeria’s fiscal reform programme.

“Taxpayers, regardless of location, can now more easily engage in the dispute resolution process without unnecessary administrative obstacles or delays, and the good news is that this process is completely free,” he said.

Oyedele described the launch as “an important milestone in Nigeria’s fiscal reform journey,” and stressed that a credible tax system must be rooted in trust and fairness, not just aggressive revenue collection.

According to him, the Tax Ombud Office was established to protect taxpayers and strengthen public trust in national tax administration.

“The agency is designed to serve as an independent, impartial and accessible platform to resolve complaints, mediate disputes and address systemic issues affecting taxpayers across the country,” Oyedele said.

He explained that this initiative is aligned with broader Federal Government reforms targeted at simplifying the tax process, reducing arbitrary assessments, and encouraging voluntary compliance.

“As we unveil these platforms and initiatives today, let them be symbols of a new era in tax administration in Nigeria, where taxpayers are treated not as enemies but as partners in national development,” the minister added.

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Also speaking at the event, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized the need for greater public awareness regarding the role of the Tax Ombud in the Federal Government’s economic reform agenda.

Idris defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and emphasized that reforms are starting to produce positive results.

He claimed that the performance of state revenues and investment inflows had improved since the reforms began.

Head of the Federation’s Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack, described the platform as community-focused reforms capable of improving access to public services and dispute resolution mechanisms.

“The introduction of this digital platform shows the need for public institutions that are more accessible, responsive and community-centered,” he said.

According to Walson-Jack, an effective tax system must not only collect revenue but also build public trust in institutions.

“When citizens and businesses know that there is a credible platform where their concerns can be received, tracked and resolved, this will strengthen voluntary compliance and deepen trust in the tax system,” he said.

He also tasked the Tax Ombuds Office to maintain professionalism and efficiency in managing the new platform.

“The website must remain active and informative. The toll-free call center must be responsive and professional. The case management system must support timely feedback, data-based reporting, and measurable improvements in the way complaints and inquiries are handled,” he added.

Earlier, the Tax Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Office of the first Tax Ombud in Nigeria, John Nwabueze, explained that the agency was established under Section Six of the Nigerian Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act of 2025 to strengthen fairness and efficiency in the country’s tax administration system.

He described the creation of the office as one of the “most forward-looking institutional reforms” introduced under the Tinubu administration.

“Therefore, the office of the Tax Ombud was created as an independent and impartial institution to provide taxpayers with an accessible, timely and cost-effective mechanism to address complaints, resolve disputes and encourage voluntary tax compliance,” Nwabueze said.

He added that taxpayers can now submit complaints online or through a call center, monitor the progress of their cases and access mediation services without having to go through lengthy court processes.

“Our mandate is clear: to be a trusted bridge between taxpayers and revenue authorities through mediation, conciliation, stakeholder engagement and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that reduce the burden of prolonged litigation and increase institutional efficiency,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Agency, Olusegun Adesokan, also stated that the office was specifically designed to help citizens resolve disputes with tax authorities without financial burden.

“We have created an office where the public can come, and this office will mediate between the citizens and the authorities whatever issues they have without any cost,” Adesokan said.

He noted that these reforms would particularly benefit vulnerable Nigerians who often struggle with the costs of legal representation during tax disputes.

“This initiative, we believe, will strengthen taxpayer confidence and also help us overcome delays and challenges in resolving tax disputes, especially for vulnerable Nigerians,” he added.

Also addressing the participants, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, Tope Fasua, said the Tinubu administration had deliberately carried out structural reforms after taking office in 2023.

He said the establishment of the Tax Ombud was part of a broader tax reform framework developed by the President’s Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee.

“The Tax Ombud is intended to be an intermediary, the first point of contact you can go to to resolve tax issues,” Fasua said.

According to him, the reform is intended to expand the tax base while protecting low-income people and small businesses from excessive tax burdens.

This disclosure comes months after President Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law in June 2025, including the Nigerian Tax Act and related laws aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s tax structure and improving revenue administration.