By Ademuyiwa Balikis
The Federal Government has announced the appointment of Dr. John Nwabueze as the Tax Ombudsman, in line with the provisions of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.
The appointment is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration system, ensuring greater transparency, fairness, and accountability in the management of public funds.
Dr. Nwabueze, who hails from Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, brings decades of experience from both the public and private sectors. He previously served as Managing Partner of a leading tax advisory firm, Technical Adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance, and Technical Adviser to the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
A seasoned financial expert, Nwabueze holds a Doctor of Business Administration (Finance) from Walden University, Minneapolis, USA, a Master’s degree in Accounting from Strayer University, Washington D.C., and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Mathematics from the University of Jos, Nigeria.
In his congratulatory message, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Nwabueze’s ability to uphold integrity, diligence, and professionalism in his new role.
The newly established Office of the Tax Ombudsman is designed to enhance transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s tax system. It will handle complaints and disputes related to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, and excise matters, ensuring fair and impartial resolution between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
The office is also mandated to safeguard taxpayers’ rights by preventing arbitrary or abusive actions by tax officials, while promoting efficiency and fairness in the handling of tax related issues.
