Tax system must be built on trust, transparency – Oyedele

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has said the tax system must be built on trust, accountability and transparency. He spoke in Abuja when the Office of the Tax Ombud officially unveiled its website, launched a toll-free taxpayer call centre, as well as a digital case management portal to […]

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has said the tax system must be built on trust, accountability and transparency.
He spoke in Abuja when the Office of the Tax Ombud officially unveiled its website, launched a toll-free taxpayer call centre, as well as a digital case management portal to provide Nigerians with free, accessible mechanisms for resolving tax disputes.
The platforms, unveiled on Monday in Abuja, are designed to enable taxpayers, individuals, businesses, and other stakeholders to lodge complaints online or by phone, track cases in real time, access taxpayer guidance, and receive professional dispute resolution services, at no cost.
According to Oyedele, the platforms represent an important milestone in Nigeria’s fiscal reform journey.
“A modern tax system must be built not only on efficient revenue collection, but also on fairness, accountability, transparency, and trust. Taxpayers must have confidence that when these disputes arise — because they will always arise — they will be handled fairly, treated respectfully, and provided with accessible and affordable timely resolution mechanisms,” he said.
Oyedele described the virtual platforms as particularly significant for leveraging technology to improve accessibility and responsiveness, noting that taxpayers regardless of location could now engage with the dispute resolution process without unnecessary delays.
“The good news is that it is entirely free,” he added.
He said the initiative aligns with the broader objectives of the government’s ongoing tax reforms, including simplifying tax administration, reducing arbitrariness, protecting taxpayers’ rights, and encouraging voluntary compliance.
In his remarks, the Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, said the event marked the activation of a new public service architecture.
“Today is more than a technology launch. It is the activation of a new public service architecture designed around accessibility, responsiveness, and citizen confidence,” he said.
Nwabueze described the office as an independent and impartial institution created to serve as a trusted bridge between taxpayers and revenue authorities through mediation, conciliation, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that reduce the burden of prolonged litigation.