Nwabueze Charges Financial Journalists to Promote Tax Literacy

Dr. John Nwabueze, Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, has urged financial journalists in Nigeria to promote tax literacy and enhance public understanding of the country's tax reforms. This call was made at the 36th Anniversary Conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) held in Lagos. The conference's theme was "Building Taxpayer Confidence and Trust in Nigeria’s Tax Reform Agenda."

FICAN, according to the Tax Ombud, is a vital link between policy institutions and the public, as financial journalists have the role of translating government's fiscal policies and positions into comprehensible information for businesses, households, investors, and policymakers. Dr. Nwabueze identified five crucial areas where financial journalists can significantly contribute: explaining the legal aspects and practical implications of tax laws, examining implementation rather than just reporting announcements, differentiating lawful tax planning from tax evasion, investigating the fairness of administration, and promoting financial and tax literacy.

Dr. Nwabueze emphasized the importance of the media in informing the public about the relationship between revenue generation, public expenditure, service delivery, and economic development, not just the amount of revenue collected. He reminded the media of its role as an informer, a question-asker, a claim-verifier, and an institution-holder accountable.

He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's leadership in reforming Nigeria's tax and revenue administration for greater fairness, inclusiveness, and sustainability, and noted that these reforms have led to the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud to foster confidence in the tax system.

Dr. Nwabueze highlighted the Office of the Tax Ombud's commitment to helping the public understand the objectives and outcomes of the tax reform agenda. He stressed the importance of building taxpayer-confident institutions and enabling revenue authorities to engage constructively. The ultimate goal, he stated, is to strengthen lawful administration and encourage responsible engagement.