Nigerian lawyers have backed the voluntary tax compliance campaign of the Office of the Tax Ombud, describing taxation as a major source of government revenue for infrastructure and social services.
The lawyers made their position known on Tuesday during a panel discussion, “Pay Now, Prosper Later,” at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, Chukwudi Achife, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday.
The panel featured the Tax Ombud and Chief Executive, Dr John Nwabueze, and legal practitioners, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ahmed Raji.
The discussion focused on strengthening taxpayer confidence in tax authorities to improve voluntary compliance and boost revenue.
Nwabueze said the Office of the Tax Ombud was committed to providing taxpayers with an independent and impartial platform to lodge complaints and have them resolved promptly.
He said the office would help address administrative and procedural challenges confronting taxpayers.
According to him, improved dispute resolution would strengthen trust between citizens and tax authorities.
“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.
He added that the office was committed to ensuring that tax grievances were handled transparently and accountably.
Nwabueze disclosed that the office had received 22 complaints since opening to the public in January, with 14 already resolved.
He said stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaigns were ongoing to increase access to the office’s services.
The Tax Ombud explained that although the office was non-judicial, it could provide early resolution of tax disputes and reduce pressure on the courts and other tax adjudication bodies.
He said the initiative would contribute to building a fairer and more transparent tax administration system.
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