President Bola Tinubu has appointed John Nwabueze as the tax ombudsman, in line with the provisions of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (establishment) Act, 2025.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the appointment aligns with Tinubu’s commitment to implementing far-reaching and sustainable reforms in Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration framework.
Onanuga said Tinubu congratulated Nwabueze on his appointment and expressed confidence that he would carry out his duties with integrity, dedication, and utmost professionalism.
According to the statement, Nwabueze, from Oshimili south local government area of Delta state, brings extensive professional and public service experience to the role.
Advertisement
“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,” the statement reads.
“Nwabueze holds a Doctor of Business Administration (Finance) from Walden University, Minneapolis, USA; 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, Nigeria.”
Onanuga said the office of the tax ombudsman was created to strengthen transparency and accountability in the tax system, enhance public confidence in tax administration, and provide a structured mechanism for the fair and impartial resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
Advertisement
“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,” he said.
The spokesperson added that the tax ombudsman is mandated to ensure that disputes are managed in an efficient, impartial, and non-adversarial manner, thereby protecting the rights of taxpayers against arbitrary or abusive actions by tax officials.
