The Office of the Tax Ombud is finalising a partnership with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) intended to bring free tax complaint and dispute-resolution services closer to market traders and taxpayers in rural communities.
Tax Ombudsman and Chief Executive Dr John Nwabueze announced the plan during a stakeholders' town hall meeting, noting that arrangements to formalise the collaboration with NIPOST were nearly complete.
The initiative aims to assist taxpayers in underserved areas who face difficulties travelling to government offices to pursue administrative and procedural grievances. For small business owners and market traders, resolving a tax dispute can involve considerable time, transport costs and complex administrative procedures, barriers that are often more severe for those in rural locations with limited access to formal government offices.
Nwabueze said the office provides its services at no cost and remains committed to resolving eligible complaints, mediating disputes and promoting fairness, transparency and accountability in tax administration.
The office has not yet disclosed when the arrangement will begin or explained precisely how complaints will be submitted and processed through the postal service.
The Office of the Tax Ombud is an independent, impartial and non-judicial institution established to address operational, procedural and administrative grievances arising from tax and revenue administration. It offers taxpayers an avenue to challenge eligible grievances and seek fair consideration of their complaints, but it is not a substitute for the courts and does not formulate tax policy.
Dr Nwabueze clarified that the office cannot cancel legitimate tax liabilities simply because a taxpayer is unwilling to pay. Its mandate is to facilitate fair resolution of eligible complaints while respecting the lawful responsibilities of taxpayers and revenue authorities. Access to dispute resolution therefore does not exempt individuals or businesses from meeting their legal tax obligations.
At the town hall meeting, representatives of market associations, professional bodies, businesses and transport operators discussed challenges within the tax administration system. Stakeholders called for simpler administrative procedures, clearer tax assessment criteria and more effective complaint channels. They also raised concerns about overlapping levies and confusion over obligations across different levels of government, underscoring the need for accessible guidance and consistent administration.
