President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of John Nwabueze as the Tax Ombudsman of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that the appointment is in accordance with the provisions of Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Onanuga said the new appointment reflects the president’s “commitment to implementing far-reaching and sustainable reforms in Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration framework.”
Tinubu, according to the statement, congratulated Nwabueze on his new role and expressed confidence in his ability to serve “with integrity, dedication, and utmost professionalism.”
Nwabueze, who hails from Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors.
Prior to his appointment, he served as Managing Partner of a reputable tax advisory firm, Technical Adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance of the National Assembly, and Technical Adviser to the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among other significant engagements in both the public and private sectors.
He holds a Doctor of Business Administration (Finance) from Walden University, Minneapolis, an M.Sc. in Accounting from Strayer University, Washington, D.C., and dual B.Sc. degrees in Accounting and Mathematics from the University of Jos.
Explaining the significance of the office, Onanuga said it was created to “strengthen transparency and accountability in the tax system, enhance public confidence in tax administration, and provide a structured mechanism for fair and impartial resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.”
He added that the tax ombudsman’s duties include receiving, reviewing, and resolving complaints related to taxes, levies, customs duties, excise matters, and other regulatory fees in line with existing laws.
Onanuga said, “The office shall be responsible for receiving, reviewing, and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, excise matters, and other related issues, in accordance with extant laws and regulations.”
According to him, the ombudsman is also expected to ensure that tax disputes are handled in an efficient, impartial, and non-adversarial manner, safeguarding taxpayers’ rights from arbitrary or abusive actions by tax officials.
