Embarrassed by the controversy over alleged padding of the 2016 budget figures, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sacked the Director-General, Budget Office, Mr. Yahaya Gusau.
He has subsequently approved the appointment of Mr. Tijjani Mohammed Abdullahi as his replacement.
Gusau was appointed to the office on August 18, 2015, for a term of four years that could have been renewed for another four years.
The sack was contained in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.
“Abdullahi, a fellow of the Certified National Accountants of Nigeria, and a banker of repute with experience in managing public finance, will replace the current Director-General (Budget), Mr. Yahaya Gusau.
“The new Director-General (Budget) is expected to work with the Minister of Budget and National Planning to efficiently deliver on the mandates of the Budget Office of the Federation,” the statement read in part.
Buhari also approved the appointment of Mr. Ben Ifeanyi Akabueze as the Special Adviser on Planning to the Minister of Budget and National Planning.
Akabueze, who is the immediate past Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos State, has worked in senior management positions in Citi Bank, Fidelity Bank, United Bank for Africa, NAL Merchant Bank, Sterling Bank and BIA Consulting Limited, among others.
He is Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers; Fellow, Institute of Credit Administrators and Honorary Fellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers.
