Tinubu Appoints John Nwabueze as Nigeria’s First Tax Ombudsman to Strengthen Accountability in Revenue System

|By Babatunji Wusu

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of John Nwabueze as Nigeria’s first-ever Tax Ombudsman, marking a significant milestone in the country’s drive to entrench fairness and accountability within its tax and revenue system.

The announcement was made on Tuesday in Abuja by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, who said the appointment followed the enactment of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.

Onanuga explained that the move aligns with Tinubu’s broader reforms to rebuild public trust in tax administration and ensure an equitable system for both taxpayers and authorities.

Before his appointment, Nwabueze served as Managing Partner of a leading tax advisory firm. He also held key advisory roles, including Technical Adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance, and Technical Adviser to the Chief Economic Adviser under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Congratulating Nwabueze, President Tinubu expressed confidence in his capacity to carry out the role with “integrity, diligence, and professionalism.”

The newly created Office of the Tax Ombudsman—established under the 2025 Act—will serve as an independent platform for taxpayers to resolve disputes with tax and revenue authorities. It will also handle complaints on taxes, levies, customs duties, excise, regulatory fees, and other fiscal matters.

According to the statement, the office aims to deliver fair and impartial dispute resolution, safeguard taxpayers from arbitrary actions by tax officials, and boost efficiency in tax administration.

“The creation of the Tax Ombudsman is a major stride toward strengthening taxpayer confidence, improving Nigeria’s tax culture, and expanding revenue collection without placing undue strain on citizens or businesses,” the statement added.