The Chief Executive of the Tax Ombud, John Nwabueze, has warned revenue authorities against multiple taxation, arbitrary assessments and illegal levies, saying the practices could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s tax reforms.
Nwabueze, who spoke at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Friday, urged tax agencies to respect taxpayers’ rights and ensure that the implementation of the new tax laws did not expose individuals and businesses to unlawful charges.
He said fairness and transparency were essential to building public trust and improving voluntary tax compliance; warning that arbitrary assessments, overlapping levies and inconsistent enforcement could discourage compliance and weaken confidence in the tax system.
The Tax Ombud said the new tax reforms, which took effect on January 1, 2026, were aimed at simplifying compliance, improving revenue generation, supporting eligible small businesses and strengthening accountability.
He, however, said the success of the reforms would depend on how fairly the laws were implemented.
