Borno Gets North-East Zonal Office of Tax Ombud
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has picked Borno State to host the North-East Zonal Headquarters of the Office of the Tax Ombud. This is part of a wider plan to bring tax help and dispute-settlement services nearer to ordinary people and business owners in all six geopolitical zones of the country.
The news came out of Maiduguri, where the Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, visited the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.
A statement released on Monday by Chukwudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, quoted Dr. Nwabueze saying the new zonal office in Borno would make it easier for taxpayers in the North-East to get support, and would also help raise the amount of tax collected compared to the size of the economy, both for the state and the country. He said Borno’s position as a major economic and revenue hub in the zone made it a fitting choice.
Dr. Nwabueze also spoke about the everyday problems that come with paying tax, especially the issue of multiple taxation, which he said is bound to happen in any busy commercial area where different tax authorities operate. He explained that his office exists to settle such disagreements between taxpayers and tax or revenue authorities in a way that is quick, open, fair and peaceful.
“While the payment of taxes remains an inalienable civic responsibility, taxpayers equally deserve to be treated fairly, respectfully and in accordance with the law as they fulfil this obligation,” Dr. Nwabueze said.
He described the creation of the Office of the Tax Ombud as one of the major results of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reform programme, which is meant to build a tax system that is fair, well run and puts ordinary citizens first.
In his response, Governor Zulum promised his full backing and political support to make sure the North-East zonal office takes off successfully in Borno State. He also promised to quickly provide a building and other facilities the office would need to begin work in Maiduguri.
To show he meant business, the Governor set up a committee made up of the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner of Finance and other top government officials. Their job is to work directly with the Tax Ombud’s team to find out exactly what is needed and get the office running in Maiduguri without delay.
Looking further ahead, Governor Zulum also instructed the Director-General of the Borno State Geographic Information Service, the agency in charge of land matters, to identify a suitable piece of land where a permanent regional headquarters for the Office of the Tax Ombud can be built in the future.
