Tax Ombud Urges Financial Journalists To Scrutinise Nigeria’s Tax Reforms

• Tax Ombud John Nwabueze has urged financial journalists to go beyond reporting tax policy announcements and examine how reforms are implemented.

• He identified tax literacy, administrative fairness and distinguishing lawful tax planning from evasion as key areas for stronger financial reporting.

• Nwabueze said the media should explain how tax revenue connects with government spending, service delivery and economic development.

September 21, () – John Nwabueze, Tax Ombud and Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Tax Ombud, has urged financial journalists to play a stronger role in explaining Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms and scrutinising their implementation.

Nwabueze made the call at the 36th Anniversary Conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Lagos, where he spoke on the theme, “Building Taxpayer Confidence and Trust in Nigeria’s Tax Reform Agenda.”

He said financial journalists serve as an important link between government institutions and the public by translating fiscal policies into information that businesses, households, investors and policymakers can understand.

According to him, effective reporting on tax reforms should go beyond announcements and focus on how policies affect taxpayers and how revenue authorities implement them.

He identified five areas where journalists could contribute more: explaining tax laws and their practical implications, examining implementation, distinguishing lawful tax planning from tax evasion, investigating administrative fairness, and promoting financial and tax literacy.

Media Has An Accountability Role

Nwabueze said reporting should also help taxpayers understand the connection between tax collection and the use of public resources.

He argued that the public needs information not only on how much revenue government collects, but also on how such revenue relates to public expenditure, service delivery and economic development.

“The media’s role is not to endorse every government policy or oppose every reform. It is to inform the public, ask difficult questions, verify claims and hold institutions accountable. A trusted financial press strengthens the quality of public discourse”, he stated.

The Tax Ombud also said stronger tax literacy could improve taxpayers’ understanding of their obligations and rights while contributing to greater confidence in the tax system.

Tax Ombud Highlights Role Of New Office

Nwabueze said Nigeria’s tax and revenue reforms had also resulted in the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud, which he described as part of efforts to promote confidence in tax administration.

He said the office was committed to contributing to a broader understanding of the objectives and outcomes of the tax reform agenda.

“We must build institutions that taxpayers can approach with confidence and revenue authorities can engage with constructively. The objective is to strengthen lawful administration and encourage responsible engagement”, he said.

The Tax Ombud’s comments come as Nigeria continues to implement changes to its tax and revenue administration framework, with increased emphasis on improving compliance, broadening the tax base and strengthening the relationship between taxpayers and revenue authorities.

Nwabueze urged journalists to contribute to that process through accurate, explanatory, and accountability-focused reporting rather than simply reproducing official positions.