Tax Ombud, NBA, JRB push inclusive reforms to boost tax compliance

Key stakeholders in Nigeria’s tax administration have reaffirmed their commitment to building a fair, transparent and inclusive tax system, describing trust, harmonised tax administration and stronger taxpayer protection as critical to improving voluntary compliance, enhancing the business environment and supporting the Federal Government’s economic reform agenda.

The consensus emerged on Wednesday at a stakeholder engagement organised by the Office of the Tax Ombud in Lagos, where policymakers, regulators, tax professionals and legal experts examined strategies for promoting fairness, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s tax administration.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, Mr. Olufemi Olarinde said taxation must be viewed as a social contract between government and citizens rather than merely a revenue-generating exercise.

He said the Federal Government was implementing comprehensive tax reforms centred on digitalisation, revenue harmonisation and institutional transparency to improve tax administration and strengthen public confidence.

According to him, ongoing reforms are reducing human discretion in tax administration through technology, closing loopholes that encourage inefficiency and corruption, while harmonising revenue collection to lower compliance costs for businesses and individuals.

“The government remains committed to building a tax system anchored on accountability, efficiency and respect for taxpayers’ rights,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr. John Nwabueze, said the Office of the Tax Ombud was established as an independent institution to provide accessible, impartial and timely resolution of tax-related complaints, thereby strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s tax system.

Addressing participants at the event themed “Promoting Fairness, Transparency and Trust in Tax Administration in Nigeria,” Nwabueze said the Office would play a strategic role in promoting voluntary tax compliance by protecting taxpayers’ rights and ensuring greater accountability among tax authorities.

He disclosed that the Office would soon unveil a comprehensive Taxpayer Bill of Rights translated into three major Nigerian languages to improve public awareness and empower taxpayers to understand and defend their rights.

“Our mandate is to mediate disputes, resolve complaints at minimal cost and create a tax environment where voluntary compliance thrives because taxpayers have confidence in the system,” he said.

From a fiscal policy perspective, the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, outlined ongoing efforts to harmonise taxes and levies across states and the Federal Capital Territory to eliminate multiple taxation and simplify compliance for businesses.

According to him, 16 states have already adopted the harmonised Taxes and Levies framework as part of efforts to create a more predictable and business-friendly tax environment.

Adesokan said one of the Board’s major achievements was reducing the numerous tax heads imposed at the subnational level to nine, a move expected to significantly reduce the burden of compliance on businesses while eliminating illegal and duplicative tax collections.

He added that digital integration and information sharing among state revenue authorities would improve recognition of taxes paid across jurisdictions and minimise disputes arising from multiple assessments.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, identified multiple taxation, administrative bottlenecks, illegal collections and inadequate public awareness as some of the major concerns affecting taxpayers across the country.

He said restoring confidence in Nigeria’s tax system would require stronger legal protection for taxpayers, simplified tax laws and enhanced institutional capacity for resolving disputes.

Osigwe also advocated stronger legislative backing for the Office of the Tax Ombud to ensure its decisions become binding and capable of providing effective remedies against arbitrary tax administration.

Also speaking, the Vice President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mazi Etofolam Osuji, stressed that integrity and trust remain fundamental to effective tax administration and dispute resolution.

He urged tax administrators, accounting professionals and taxpayers to uphold the principles of fairness, honesty and transparency, noting that confidence in the system would encourage greater compliance.

Similarly, the Deputy Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Dr. Titilayo Fowokan, advocated dialogue-based dispute resolution and encouraged taxpayers to utilise the Office of the Tax Ombud as an impartial and cost-effective alternative to litigation.

The stakeholder engagement brought together representatives of professional bodies, revenue agencies, tax practitioners, legal experts and other stakeholders as part of ongoing efforts to support the implementation of Nigeria’s tax reforms through improved collaboration, institutional accountability and stronger taxpayer protection.