BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Office of the Tax Ombud has finalised plans with the Nigerian Postal Service to extend its services to all Local Government Areas (LGAs), while improving taxpayers’ access to independent dispute resolution.
Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of OTO, Dr John Nwabueze revealed this during a management retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, with the theme: “Leading with Purpose: Strengthening Leadership and Delivering Sustainable Excellence.”
He disclosed that the office is intensifying efforts to raise public awareness of its mandate and services, adding that public confidence remained essential to building an efficient and sustainable revenue administration system.
“The Office is committed to ensuring that taxpayers have access to an independent and impartial platform where their complaints can be addressed without unnecessary delays or financial burden,” he said.
Nwabueze hinted that the office was established in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to strengthen tax administration through effective mediation and the prompt, amicable resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
He stated that the management retreat enables the organisation’s leadership to review its mandate, clarify its strategic direction and strengthen alignment towards achieving its objectives.
Nwabueze enjoined staff members to make discipline, diligence and courtesy the foundation of their professional conduct, stating that the office’s performance should go beyond the number of complaints it resolves.
“The ultimate measure of our success is not simply the number of cases we resolve, but the confidence we build, the trust we restore and the positive difference we make in the relationship between taxpayers and revenue authorities,” he said.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno commended the Federal Government’s tax reforms, adding that they were designed to improve revenue generation and address longstanding challenges in tax administration.
Eno appreciated the office for choosing Akwa Ibom as the venue for the retreat, saying that his administration is implementing policies to promote enterprise, improve the business environment and reduce the burden of doing business in the state.
He identified the introduction of the Treasury Single Account and a consolidated tax collection system as measures his administration was pursuing to strengthen public financial management and revenue administration.
Eno, who was represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Emem Bob, enjoined the Tax Ombud to establish a presence in the state, pledging his administration’s support to ensure residents could access its services.
Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Okon Okon, described the Tax Ombud as an important institution for promoting fairness, trust and harmony in the country’s tax administration system.
He praised the office for providing its services free of charge, describing the arrangement as a significant relief to taxpayers and revenue authorities seeking an impartial platform to resolve tax-related complaints.
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