TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment Tijjani Mohammed Abdullahi as the director-general (budget).

According to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, on Monday, 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), Yahaya Gusau.

Although no official reason was given for the change, it comes one week after revelations of discrepancies in some of the figures submitted in the budget and those seen in the copy treated by the senate.

For example, last Monday, Isaac Adewole, minister of health, disowned the budget proposal for his ministry, saying it was 10 percent less than what his team proposed and particularly noting that the initial budget being worked upon by the national assembly had been altered by “rats”.

“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,” statement read.

“President  Buhari has also approved the appointment of Ben Ifeanyi Akabueze as the special adviser on planning to the president.”

“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 gellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers.”