The Office of the Tax Ombud is exploring a partnership with the Nigerian Postal Service to extend its services to all local government areas and improve taxpayers' access to independent dispute resolution. Dr John Nwabueze, the Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, disclosed this at the opening of a three-day management retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The office was established in line with President Bola Tinubu's vision to strengthen tax administration through effective mediation and the prompt, amicable resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
Nwabueze said the office was intensifying efforts to raise public awareness of its mandate and services, stressing that public confidence remained essential to building an efficient, sustainable revenue administration system. He stated: "The Office is committed to ensuring that taxpayers have access to an independent and impartial platform where their complaints can be addressed without unnecessary delays or financial burden." The management retreat was themed "Leading with Purpose: Strengthening Leadership and Delivering Sustainable Excellence," and would enable the organisation's leadership to review its mandate, clarify its strategic direction and strengthen alignment towards achieving its objectives.
Nwabueze urged staff members to make discipline, diligence and courtesy the foundation of their professional conduct. He emphasised that the office's performance should not be measured solely by the number of complaints it resolves. "The ultimate measure of our success is not simply the number of cases we resolve, but the confidence we build, the trust we restore and the positive difference we make in the relationship between taxpayers and revenue authorities," he said.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Emem Bob, commended the Federal Government's tax reforms, saying they were designed to improve revenue generation and address longstanding challenges in tax administration. Eno urged the Tax Ombud to establish a presence in the state and pledged his administration's support to ensure residents could access its services. The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Okon Okon, described the Tax Ombud as an important institution for promoting fairness, trust and harmony in the country's tax administration system and commended the office for providing its services free of charge.