Nigeria's Office of the Tax Ombud plans to open six regional offices across the country's six geopolitical zones before the end of 2026, in a move aimed at bringing its services closer to taxpayers.

The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office, Dr John Nwabueze, disclosed the plan on Friday in Abuja at the fourth-quarter 2026 breakfast meeting with members of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN).

He said the proposed regional offices would commence operations subject to the final approval of President Bola Tinubu. The offices are intended to make it easier for taxpayers to lodge complaints, have them handled more quickly, and improve transparency and accountability in the country's tax and revenue administration.

Dr Nwabueze said the Office had resolved about 82 per cent of the complaints it has received from taxpayers since it was established. He described the figure as evidence that the young institution was already making a difference for people in dispute with tax authorities.

The Office was created under the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025, as part of the federal government's wider tax reforms. It acts as an independent, impartial and non-judicial channel for handling complaints about the operational and administrative side of tax collection, rather than as a court or tribunal.

Alongside the regional offices, the Tax Ombud said dedicated desks would be set up within all 36 state tax authorities to allow complaints to be handled in real time and to improve communication between taxpayers and revenue agencies. He said discussions were already under way with the Joint Revenue Board to extend the Office's reach, including to taxpayers in rural communities.

Dr Nwabueze said the Office had stepped up its stakeholder engagement and public awareness work in recent weeks, working with government agencies, independent organisations and traditional and modern media platforms to explain its mandate and build confidence in the tax system.

He added that cooperation with state governments and federal agencies had been encouraging, and that feedback from state governments had been overwhelmingly positive. Engagement with the National Assembly and other stakeholders was also strengthening institutional support for the Office's role as a neutral mediator in tax and revenue disputes.

The Tax Ombud stressed that the Office's services are entirely free. He urged taxpayers who experience problems in their dealings with tax and revenue authorities to bring their complaints forward through the Office's resolution mechanism, rather than going straight to lengthy court proceedings.

He explained that the Office seeks fair and impartial settlements through constructive engagement between taxpayers and tax authorities. Where a complaint cannot be settled through mediation, it is directed to the appropriate channel for further escalation.

"We are dedicated to building trust in the tax system and ensuring that all Nigerians have their voices heard," Dr Nwabueze said. "With the proposed launch of our regional offices and continued investment in public awareness and stakeholder engagement, we are confident in our ability to serve the nation better."