President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr John Nwabueze as Nigeria’s first Tax Ombudsman, in line with the provisions of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to implementing far-reaching and sustainable reforms in Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration framework.
President Tinubu congratulated Dr Nwabueze on his appointment, expressing confidence in his integrity, professionalism, and capacity to discharge the duties of the office effectively.
According to the statement, “the Ombudsman will be responsible for receiving, reviewing, and resolving complaints related to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, excise matters, and other related issues, in line with existing laws.”
The office is further mandated to ensure that disputes are handled in an efficient, impartial, and non-adversarial manner, safeguarding taxpayers’ rights against any arbitrary or abusive exercise of authority by tax officials.
Dr Nwabueze, an indigene of Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, brings extensive experience in taxation, finance, and public policy to the position.
He previously served as Managing Partner of a reputable tax advisory firm, Technical Adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance, and Technical Adviser to the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among other roles across both the public and private sectors.
He holds a Doctor of Business Administration (Finance) from Walden University, Minneapolis, 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.
The Office of the Tax Ombudsman, newly established by law, is designed to promote transparency and accountability in the nation’s tax system.
It will serve as a mechanism for the fair and impartial resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities, while also enhancing public confidence in tax administration.