President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. John Nwabueze as the nation’s first Tax Ombudsman, in a bold move aimed at deepening transparency, accountability, and fairness in Nigeria’s tax administration system.
The appointment, announced in a statement from the State House on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, follows the enactment of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.
According to the statement, the creation of the Office of the Tax Ombudsman forms part of President Tinubu’s broader reform agenda to overhaul revenue administration, strengthen public confidence in the tax system, and provide taxpayers with a credible mechanism for redress in cases of unfair treatment by tax authorities.
Dr. Nwabueze, an accomplished finance and tax expert from Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, brings a wealth of experience spanning both the public and private sectors.
Before his new appointment, he served as Managing Partner of a leading tax advisory firm and as Technical Adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance. He also previously served as Technical Adviser to the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Nwabueze holds a Doctor of Business Administration (Finance) from Walden University, Minneapolis, USA; a Master of Science in Accounting from Strayer University, Washington, D.C.; and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Mathematics from the University of Jos.
The Tax Ombudsman’s Office, the statement explained, will handle complaints relating to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, and excise matters in line with existing laws. It will serve as a neutral platform for reviewing and resolving disputes between taxpayers and revenue agencies.
In his remarks, President Tinubu congratulated Dr. Nwabueze and expressed confidence in his ability to uphold integrity, professionalism, and fairness in carrying out his duties.
“The appointment is a demonstration of this administration’s commitment to fairness and justice in tax administration,” the statement added.
The President urged the new Tax Ombudsman to ensure disputes are managed efficiently and impartially, safeguarding taxpayers’ rights and discouraging arbitrary conduct by tax officials.
Tinubu Appoints Delta Born Dr. John Nwabueze as Nigeria’s First Tax Ombudsman
