President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of John Nwabueze as the Tax Ombudsman, in accordance with the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the appointment reflects Tinubu’s dedication to introducing comprehensive and sustainable reforms in Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration system.
Onanuga noted that Tinubu congratulated Nwabueze on his new role and expressed confidence in his ability to serve “with integrity, dedication, and utmost professionalism.”
According to the statement, Nwabueze, who hails from Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, possesses vast experience in 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,” 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 explained that the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombudsman aims to enhance transparency and accountability within the nation’s tax system, boost public trust in tax administration, and create a fair and structured process for resolving disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
“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.
He added that the Tax Ombudsman is expected to ensure that disputes are handled “in an efficient, impartial, and non-adversarial manner,” protecting taxpayers’ rights from “arbitrary or abusive actions by tax officials.”