Federal Government on Monday unveiled digital platforms under the Office of the Tax Ombud, enabling Nigerian taxpayers to resolve tax-related disputes free of charge as part of efforts to improve fairness, transparency and accountability in tax administration.

Taiwo Oyedele

Taiwo Oyedele, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, disclosed this during the launch of the Tax Ombud website, toll-free call centre and case management system at Stratton Hotel, Abuja.

Oyedele described the initiative as a major milestone in Nigeria’s fiscal reform agenda, saying the platforms would make tax dispute resolution more accessible to taxpayers nationwide.

“Taxpayers, regardless of location, can now engage more easily with the dispute resolution process without unnecessary administrative bottlenecks or delays, and the good news is that it is entirely free,” he said.

According to him, the Office of the Tax Ombud was established to strengthen taxpayer protection and boost confidence in Nigeria’s tax administration system.

He said the institution would serve as an independent and impartial platform for resolving complaints, mediating disputes and addressing systemic tax issues across the country.

Oyedele added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader tax reforms aimed at simplifying tax administration, reducing arbitrariness, protecting taxpayer rights, encouraging voluntary compliance and building a globally competitive fiscal system.

“As we unveil these platforms today, let this mark a new era in tax administration in Nigeria, where taxpayers are treated not as adversaries but as partners in national development,” he said.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigerians needed more awareness about the role of the Tax Ombud in supporting the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Idris said the government’s economic reforms were beginning to yield positive results, citing improvements in revenue performance and investment inflows.

Also speaking, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, described the platforms as citizen-centred reforms designed to improve public access to tax complaint resolution.

She said tax administration should not only focus on revenue generation but also on strengthening trust and confidence in public institutions.

Nigeria’s first Tax Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, John Nwabueze, said the office was established under Part Six of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria Establishment Act 2025 to promote fairness, transparency and efficiency in tax administration.

He said the digital platforms would allow taxpayers to lodge complaints online or through the toll-free centre, track cases in real time and access mediation services without resorting to prolonged litigation.

Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Olusegun Adesokan, said the office was created to protect taxpayer rights and mediate disputes between citizens and revenue authorities at no cost.

Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, Tope Fasua, said the Tax Ombud forms part of the broader tax reform agenda initiated by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee.

He noted that the reforms are aimed at widening the tax net while exempting small businesses and low-income earners from additional tax burdens.

In June 2025, President Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law, including the Nigeria Tax Act, in what government officials described as a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s tax system.

World Health Organisation (WHO) at the weekend declared the Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain a global public health emergency.

WHO said there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain of Ebola.

At home, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said there is “no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria” but had  tightened surveillance against the deadly virus.

The outbreak, linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has already caused dozens of deaths in Congo and spread into Uganda, raising fears of wider transmission across the region.

In response, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said that the country remains on alert because of growing movement across African borders.

Jide Idris, director-general said the agency was “closely monitoring the situation” and working with the Port Health Services and other health agencies to strengthen preparedness nationwide.

He added that surveillance has been increased at entry points and within Nigeria’s health system.

According to the WHO, the outbreak has recorded more than 240 suspected cases and about 80 suspected deaths in Congo’s Ituri province, while imported cases have also been confirmed in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

The WHO said the outbreak is “extraordinary” because of uncertainty around the true number of infections and the lack of approved medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo strain.

Health authorities advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with infected persons and report symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting and bleeding to the nearest health facility immediately.

Nigeria was declared Ebola-free in 2014 after successfully containing an outbreak brought into the country by an infected traveler from Liberia.

Africa’s digital payments ecosystem will take center stage as Digital PayExpo 2026 returns to Lagos on June 17–18, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, under the theme: “Seamless Digital: Fostering Pan-African Market Expansion in the AI Era.”

At a time when artificial intelligence, cross-border commerce, and financial inclusion are redefining Africa’s economic future, the event is set to convene over 3,000 senior executives, policymakers, fintech innovators, and global technology providers.

The speaker lineup reflects a powerful blend of regulatory leadership, private sector innovation, and pan-African expertise.

Among the headline speakers:

• Dr. Rakiya Yusuf, Director, Payment Systems Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria — a key architect in Nigeria’s payment system reforms.
• Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager & Area Business Head (West Africa), Mastercard — a leading voice in digital payments expansion across Africa.
• Clara B. Arthur, Managing Director, GhIPSS (Ghana) — driving Ghana’s interoperable payment ecosystem.
• Wacera Maina, Chief Operations Officer, Kenwitch Kenya — an expert in East Africa’s payment infrastructure evolution.
• Akeem Lawal, CEO, Interswitch Group — a pioneer in Africa’s fintech growth story.
• Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director, NIBSS — shaping Nigeria’s core payment infrastructure.

The conference will explore:

• AI-powered financial services
• Cross-border payment systems and interoperability
• Cybersecurity and trust frameworks
• SME financing and financial inclusion
• Infrastructure for a unified African digital economy

With participation from banks, fintechs, telcos, regulators, and global payment networks, Digital PayExpo 2026 is positioned as a critical marketplace for ideas, partnerships, and investment flows. Register: https://digitalpayexpo.com/register
Sponsorship Enquiries: [email protected]