By Onu Okorie

Nigeria’s Office of the Tax Ombud has unveiled a digital case management portal, official website, and toll-free call centre to streamline the resolution of tax disputes and strengthen public trust in the country’s fiscal system.

The platforms, launched in Abuja will give taxpayers, businesses, and stakeholders free access to lodge complaints, track cases in real time, and obtain dispute resolution services without lengthy litigation.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, described the initiative as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal reform drive. He stressed that a modern tax system must extend beyond revenue collection to guarantee fairness, transparency, and accountability.

“Taxpayers must have confidence that when disputes arise, they will be handled fairly, treated respectfully, and provided with accessible and affordable timely resolution mechanisms,” Oyedele said, adding that the platforms would allow taxpayers across the country to engage the dispute resolution process remotely and at no cost.

Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the office, John Nwabueze, said the launch represented more than a technology rollout. “It is the activation of a new public service architecture designed around accessibility, responsiveness, and citizen confidence,” he stated.

Nwabueze described the Office of the Tax Ombud as an independent, impartial institution that bridges the gap between taxpayers and revenue authorities through mediation, conciliation, and alternative dispute resolution. He said the office was created to ease the financial burden of prolonged tax litigation while ensuring fair hearings for all Nigerians regardless of location or business size.

“Every Nigerian taxpayer — regardless of location, income level, or business size — should have access to fair hearing, efficient redress mechanisms, and quality taxpayer services,” he said.