Nigerian lawyers have backed the Office of the Tax Ombud’s efforts to promote voluntary tax compliance and increase government revenue, stressing the importance of a trusted and transparent tax system.
The position was expressed during a panel discussion titled “Pay Now, Prosper Later” at the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The panel featured Tax Ombud and Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Nwabueze, and other legal experts, including Ahmed Raji, SAN.
The lawyers noted that taxation remained an important source of funding for infrastructure and social services. They also stressed that strengthening taxpayers’ confidence in tax authorities would encourage voluntary compliance and improve revenue generation.
Nwabueze said the Tax Ombud provides taxpayers with an independent and impartial platform for resolving complaints and reducing administrative and procedural difficulties. He said the office was established to bridge the gap between taxpayers and tax administrators and promote a more accessible and trusted tax system.
According to him, the office has received 22 complaints since opening to the public in January, with 14 already resolved. He urged Nigerians with tax-related grievances to use the platform, noting that its non-judicial dispute resolution mechanism could reduce pressure on the courts.
Nwabueze expressed confidence that greater public awareness and stakeholder engagement would strengthen the Tax Ombud’s contribution to a fairer, more transparent tax environment and improve trust between taxpayers and government authorities.
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