Nigerian Lawyers Support Tax Ombud’s Voluntary Compliance Drive at NBA Conference
Nigerian lawyers have thrown their weight behind the voluntary tax compliance drive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, stressing the need to build greater trust between taxpayers and tax authorities to boost government revenue.
The lawyers made their position known during a panel discussion titled “Pay Now, Prosper Later” at the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The session featured the Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Dr. John Nwabueze, and other prominent legal practitioners, including Ahmed Raji, SAN.
The discussions centred on taxation as a critical source of government revenue for infrastructure development and the provision of social services, with participants emphasising that taxpayer confidence would be crucial to improving voluntary compliance.
Speaking at the event, Nwabueze said the Office of the Tax Ombud was committed to giving taxpayers an independent and impartial avenue to lodge tax-related complaints and secure timely and equitable resolutions.
According to him, the Office would “alleviate the burden of administrative and procedural issues for taxpayers, helping to foster trust between citizens and tax authorities.”
He added: “It is our belief that the Office will contribute significantly towards bridging the gap between taxpayers and tax administration, making the tax system more accessible and trusted.”
Nwabueze said the Office was also committed to resolving tax grievances transparently, noting that doing so would ultimately strengthen the country’s tax administration system.
Giving an update on the activities of the Office since its establishment, he disclosed that it had received 22 complaints since opening its doors to the public in January, with 14 already resolved.
He said ongoing stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaigns were being undertaken to ensure that more Nigerians understood and could access the services of the Tax Ombud.
While acknowledging that the Office is non-judicial, Nwabueze said it provides an important avenue for early resolution of tax disputes and could help reduce the burden on courts and other tax adjudication bodies.
The Tax Ombud’s position comes amid efforts to improve tax compliance and strengthen the relationship between taxpayers and tax authorities, with the Office seeking to promote what it described as a fairer, more transparent and trusted tax environment.
The Office encouraged Nigerians with tax-related complaints to approach it for assistance, expressing confidence that increased public awareness would expand its role in improving Nigeria’s tax administration.
