President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. John Nwabueze as the Tax Ombudsman of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025.
The appointment, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, is part of the administration’s broader reforms to enhance transparency, fairness, and accountability in the nation’s tax and revenue administration framework.
“This appointment aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to implementing far-reaching and sustainable reforms in tax and revenue management to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s fiscal system,” Onanuga said.
Dr. Nwabueze, from Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, brings decades of professional and public service experience to the role. Before his appointment, he served as Managing Partner of a leading tax advisory firm, Technical Adviser to the Joint Senate Committees on the Federal Capital Territory and Finance, and Technical Adviser to the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among other key roles in both the public and private sectors.
A distinguished scholar, 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 of Science degrees in Accounting and Mathematics from the University of Jos, Nigeria.
President Tinubu congratulated Dr. Nwabueze on his appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to “discharge the responsibilities of the office with integrity, diligence, and utmost professionalism.”
According to Onanuga, the Office of the Tax Ombudsman was established to strengthen transparency and accountability within the tax system, enhance public confidence in tax administration, and provide an independent, fair mechanism for resolving disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.
“The Office will be responsible for receiving, reviewing, and resolving complaints related to taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, and excise matters in accordance with existing laws and regulations,” Onanuga added.
He further explained that the Tax Ombudsman would ensure disputes are handled efficiently, impartially, and in a non-adversarial manner, safeguarding the rights of taxpayers and preventing arbitrary or abusive practices by tax officials.
