Enugu has been designated as the south-east zonal headquarters of the office of the tax ombud, a move aimed at improving taxpayer support services and strengthening tax administration across the region.
John Nwabueze, the tax ombud and chief executive of the office (CEO) of the tax ombud, announced the development during a meeting with Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, at the state’s government house on Tuesday.
Nwabueze said the decision to locate the south-east zonal headquarters in Enugu was informed by the state’s growing economic profile and its strategic role as one of Nigeria’s leading industrial and commercial centres.
He noted that the increasing volume of business activities in the state inevitably gives rise to tax-related disputes, including issues of multiple taxation, making the presence of the office of the tax ombud essential.
According to him, the office was established to provide taxpayers with timely, transparent, impartial and amicable dispute resolution mechanisms in their engagements with revenue authorities.
“While the payment of taxes remains an inalienable civic responsibility, taxpayers equally deserve to be treated fairly, respectfully and in accordance with the law as they fulfil this obligation,” Nwabueze said.
He explained that efficient resolution of tax disputes would encourage voluntary tax compliance, reduce tensions between taxpayers and tax authorities, and improve public confidence in the tax system.
Nwabueze described the establishment of the office of the tax ombud as one of the major achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing tax reform agenda, which seeks to create a fair, efficient and citizen-centred tax administration framework.
To improve accessibility, he said the office had launched an official website, a toll-free call centre and a digital case management portal through which taxpayers can obtain information, file complaints free of charge and monitor the progress of their cases in real time.
The tax ombud also sought collaboration with the Enugu state government to deepen taxpayer protection, promote voluntary compliance and strengthen trust in Nigeria’s evolving tax administration system.
He explained that the office of the tax ombud is an independent institution established under the Joint Tax Board (Establishment) Act, 2025, with responsibility for receiving, reviewing and resolving complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, charges, customs duties and excise matters.
In his response, the governor welcomed the decision and expressed the state’s readiness to host the regional headquarters, including providing the required facilities.
The governor said Enugu was a suitable location for the office, citing his administration’s target of expanding the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within eight years through private sector-led investments.
Mbah said the establishment of the office of the tax ombud comes at a crucial time as his government intensifies efforts to block revenue leakages and expand the tax net.
He added that the office would help improve tax compliance and boost revenue generation in the state and the wider region.
The governor also commended President Tinubu’s reform initiatives, particularly the ongoing tax reforms, which he said are necessary to generate sustainable revenue for the provision of education, healthcare, infrastructure and other essential public services.
