The Office of the Tax Ombud has designated Enugu State as its South-East Zonal Headquarters.
The Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr. John Nwabueze, who announced this on Tuesday said this would not only bring the services of the agency closer to individuals and businesses across the South East geo-political region, but also
enhance taxpayers’ support services and to improve both the state and country’s tax-to-GDP ratio.
Exchanging pleasantries with the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, during his visit in Enugu, Nwabueze said the State was selected to host the zonal headquarters in view of its status as one of Nigeria’s foremost industrial and commercial hubs.
Enugu State, Dr. Nwabueze pointed out, occupies a strategic position in the operations of the tax Ombud Office, given its expanding economic activities and significant contribution to revenue generation.
Tax-related disputes, including the challenge of multiple taxation, he said, are inevitable in a vibrant commercial environment, adding that the Office of the Tax Ombud was established to provide timely, transparent, impartial and amicable mechanisms for resolving disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
“While the payment of taxes remains an inalienable civic responsibility, taxpayers equally deserve to be treated fairly, respectfully and in accordance with the law as they fulfil this obligation,” he explained.
The effective dispute resolution, the Tax Ombud said, would encourage voluntary compliance, reduce friction between taxpayers and tax authorities, and significantly diminish public scepticism towards tax matters.
The establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud, he said, represents one of the landmark achievements of the ongoing tax reform agenda aimed at building a fair, efficient and citizen-centred tax system.
As part of efforts to improve accessibility and public engagement, Dr. Nwabueze disclosed that the Office recently unveiled its official website and launched a toll-free call centre and a digital case management portal.
These platforms, he said, would enable taxpayers to obtain information, lodge complaints online or by telephone at no cost, and monitor the progress of their cases in real time.
Dr. Nwabueze called for strategic collaboration with the Enugu State Government to deepen taxpayer protection, promote voluntary tax compliance and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s evolving tax administration system.
He said the Office of the Tax Ombud was an independent and impartial institution established under the Joint Tax Board (Establishment) Act, 2025, with the mandate to receive, review and resolve complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, charges, customs duties and excise matters.
Responding, Governor Mbah expressed the state’s readiness to host the regional headquarters, including the provision of the necessary facilities to assist their effective operations.
He described Enugu as a fitting host for an important institution such as the Office of the Tax Ombud, citing his administration’s commitment to growing the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within eight years through private sector-driven investments.
The Governor told his guest that the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud was particularly critical at a time when his administration was intensifying efforts to block revenue leakages and widen the state’s tax net.
He noted that the Office would help improve tax compliance and boost revenue generation.
Lauding the present administration’s reform initiatives, particularly on taxation, Nwabueze described the reforms as necessary to drive sustainable revenue growth required for the government to provide quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and other essential public services.
R-L: Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, with Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, in Enugu, on Tuesday.
