Tax Ombud seeks IMF support to strengthen institutional capacity

The Office of the Tax Ombud has called on the International Monetary Fund to provide strategic support aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity, operational independence, and effectiveness of Nigeria’s newly established tax dispute resolution body.

The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office, John Nwabueze, made the appeal during a high-level benchmark visit to the South African Tax Ombud in Pretoria. The visit was facilitated by the IMF as part of efforts to strengthen tax administration systems globally through institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Speaking during the engagement, Nwabueze commended the IMF for fostering international cooperation and also appreciated the South African Tax Ombud for sharing institutional experiences and best practices.

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He noted that the establishment of Nigeria’s Office of the Tax Ombud under Part VI of the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act 2025 marked a major policy milestone under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability in the country’s tax administration system.

According to him, the operations of the Office are built on three core pillars of accessibility, neutrality, and systemic impact.

Nwabueze said the complexity of Nigeria’s fiscal environment and the growing volume of tax-related disputes across sectors, including oil and gas, manufacturing, telecommunications, and the digital economy underscore the need for stronger institutional support.

“As a young institution, we require targeted support to build robust operational systems, deepen technical expertise, and safeguard our functional independence,” he stated.

He urged the IMF to assist the Office through specialised training programmes, technical assistance, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and staff secondment opportunities.

According to him, such support would improve the quality and speed of dispute resolution while also boosting taxpayer confidence and voluntary tax compliance.

The Tax Ombud further stated that the office would leverage lessons from the South African benchmarking visit to strengthen its operational framework and improve institutional effectiveness.