Taxpayers Get Free Legal Aid As Ombud Office Starts Operations January 1

Nigeria’s taxpayers will soon gain access to free legal support in tax disputes as the Office of the Tax Ombud launches full operations on January 1, 2026, an official release confirms.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appointed Dr John Nwabueze, as the pioneer Tax Ombud and chief executive.

He brings over two decades of tax administration experience from Nigeria and the United States.
The office, special adviser to the president on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga noted, aims to transform tax governance.

“The office was established to strengthen transparency and accountability within the tax system, enhance confidence in tax administration, while also providing a structured mechanism for the fair and impartial resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities,” Onanuga stated.

Onanuga highlighted key powers, including that the office “will receive, review, and resolve complaints about taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, excise matters, and other related issues in accordance with extant laws and regulations.” Crucially, it can “institute legal proceedings on behalf of the taxpayer at no cost,” alongside educating on tax authority roles and taxpayer rights.
In a statement by chief press secretary, Chudi Achife, Dr. Nwabueze praised the move as evidence of leadership.

“The establishment of the new office demonstrated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to amicable and seamless tax dispute resolution and to protecting taxpayers’ rights to challenge arbitrary actions by tax and revenue authorities,” he said.

Nwabueze tied the launch to broader economic gains from Tinubu’s policies, which he said are “guiding the country toward sustainable prosperity” through “a declining inflation rate, a stable exchange rate, growing reserves, higher investor confidence, a bullish market, and an export surplus.”

“I share in the President’s pragmatic leadership approach,” Dr. Nwabueze affirmed. “Establishing the Office of the Tax Ombud shows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ingenuity and foresight in reforming tax administration to ensure fairness, accountability, and efficiency.”

He also commended Finance Minister Wale Edun for advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda. Dr. Nwabueze announced upcoming press briefings and stakeholder sessions “to inform Nigerians of his vision and plans for a fair, transparent, accountable, and efficient tax justice system,” he said.