The Office of the Tax Ombudsman has called on the International Monetary Fund to provide strategic assistance aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity, operational independence and effectiveness of Nigeria’s newly established tax dispute resolution body.
Chief Executive of the Tax Ombudsman and Office of the Tax Ombudsman, John Nwabueze made the appeal during a high-level benchmark visit to the South African Tax Ombudsman in Pretoria. The visit was facilitated by the IMF as part of its efforts to strengthen tax administration systems globally through institutional cooperation and knowledge exchange.
Speaking during the engagement, Nwabueze commended the IMF for promoting international cooperation and also commended the South African Tax Ombud for sharing institutional experiences and best practices.
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He said the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombudsman of Nigeria under Part VI of the Joint Board of Revenue (Establishment) Act 2025 is a major policy milestone under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at promoting fairness, transparency and accountability in the country’s tax administration system.
According to him, the operation of the office is built on three main pillars of accessibility, neutrality and systemic impact.
Nwabueze said the complexity of Nigeria's financial environment and the increasing volume of tax-related disputes in sectors including oil and gas, manufacturing, telecommunications and the digital economy underline the need for stronger institutional support.
“As a young institution, we need targeted support to build stronger operational systems, deepen technical expertise and protect our functional independence,” he said.
He urged the IMF to support the Office through special training programs, technical assistance, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and other staff opportunities.
According to him, such support will improve the quality and speed of dispute resolution, as well as enhance taxpayer confidence and voluntary tax compliance.
The Tax Ombud further said that the office will draw lessons from the South African benchmarking visit to strengthen its operational framework and improve institutional effectiveness.
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