President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr. Tijjani Mohammed Abdullahi as the Director-General (Budget).
Mr. 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.
A statement signed by Presidential Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, did not however state the reason for the sack of Mr. Yahaya Gusau. who was appointed barely six months ago.
His sack may however not be unconnected with the recent padding of the 2016 budget that has turned out to be an embarrassment to the Buhari administration.
President Buhari had few days ago ordered investigation into the padding of the budget by government officials.
A couple of Senate committees had discovered during budget defence by ministers that strange figures have been added into the budget of various ministries, compelling the Upper Chamber to defer further action on it.
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.
President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Mr Ben Ifeanyi Akabueze as the Special Adviser on Planning to the Minister of Budget and National Planning.
Mr 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.
