President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the former
Director-General for the Budget Mr. Yahaya Gusau, announced today in a press
release from his Senior Special Adviser for Media and Publicity Femi Adesina.
The press statement issued by Mr. Adesina expressly states that the new
appointment is connected to “officials responsible for budget scandal.” Read more at:
The Buhari administration has been repeatedly confronted with
embarrassing revelations connected to its budget provided to the National Assembly
for approval in December 2015. News broke in January 2016 that the Presidency
stole the budget from the Senate chambers hours before it was due to be
reviewed by Senate members. Interviews with sources found
that Ita Enang, the Senior Special Adviser to the President for National
Assembly Matters (Senate), was involved in this theft and was inconspicuously
trying to reintroduce a new budget.
Following this scandal, more details emerged that there were
unnecessary and lavish allocations in the budget which provoked outrage on
social media and among many National Assembly members. President Buhari stated
that he would find the culprits responsible for placing these expenses into the
budget without his approval.
Mr. Tijiani Mohammed Abdullahi was appointed to replace Mr.
Gusau today, according to Mr. Adesina’s statement.
Additionally, President Buhari approved the appointment of Mr.
Ben Ifeanyi Akabueze as the Special Adviser on Planning to the Minister of
Budget and National Planning. Mr. Akabueze is not replacing anyone and this is
a new role created by President Buhari, according to Mr. Adesina during a phone
conversation with our correspondent.
The full press release can be found below:
President Buhari Officials Responsible For Budget Scandal
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.
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.
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