Buhari sacks DG Budget office over scandals, appoints Ben Akabueze as SA Planning

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Mr. Yahaya Gusau, Director-General in charge of the Budget Office of the Federation and immediately announced Mr. Tijjani Abdullahi as the new DG.

Yahaya Gusau

The President also approved the appointment of Ben Akabueze as the Special Adviser on Planning to the Minister of Budget and National Planning.

Abdullahi, a fellow of the Certified National Accountants of Nigeria, and a banker of repute with experience in managing public finance.

Mr. Gusau, who replaced Bright Okogu (who completed two terms of office), was appointed to the office on August 18, 2015, for a term of four years that could have been renewed for another four years.

But he has now been sacked less than six months after, following the widespread irregularities detected in the 2016 budget presently under consideration by the National Assembly.

Analysts opined that Mr Gusau’s sacked may not be unconnected to the alleged padding of the 2016 budget and his inability to effectively deliver on his mandate.

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, a statement by the presidency said.

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.