BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Office of the Tax Ombud is developing a Taxpayer Charter in indigenous languages such as Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin and English to explain taxpayers’ rights and responsibilities, and improve awareness.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OTO, Dr John Nwabueze stated this at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Abuja with the theme: “Promoting Fairness in Tax and Revenue Administration in Nigeria.”
He noted that the initiative would help taxpayers understand their obligations and available channels for seeking redress, encouraging tax and revenue authorities to apply the law consistently, communicate clearly and treat taxpayers with dignity.
To this end, OTO called for fair treatment of taxpayers, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s tax administration to promote public confidence and voluntary compliance.
Nwabueze said that the office is committed to protecting taxpayers’ rights, resolving administrative complaints and identifying systemic weaknesses requiring corrective action.
He described OTO as an impartial bridge between taxpayers, the government and revenue authorities, rather than an advocate for any party, adding that the office had established complaints-handling procedures, digital management systems, stakeholder partnerships, taxpayer education initiatives and a dedicated call centre.
Nwabueze listed consistent tax interpretation, procedural justice, quality service, transparency and accountability, and protection of vulnerable taxpayers as the five pillars, saying that tax exemptions and reliefs provided by law, particularly for eligible small businesses must be properly communicated and respected.
He noted that taxpayers deserve fair hearings, transparent decisions and timely responses to complaints in accordance with the law, encouraging businesses and individuals to fulfil their lawful tax obligations and use established channels to report genuine grievances.
Nwabueze called on professional bodies, the private sector, civil society and the media to support public awareness and constructive engagement, assuring that OTO would continue addressing complaints, facilitating fair resolutions and recommending improvements where systemic problems were identified.
He said that a fair tax system would encourage voluntary compliance, reduce disputes and create a predictable environment for investment and economic growth, enjoining stakeholders to pursue fairness in Nigeria’s tax administration.
The President/Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr Samuel Agbeluyi stated that tax fairness and revenue collection is a continuous process, commending the office of the Tax Ombud for their efforts in sustaining a fair tax system.
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