Twenty two directors were yesterday redeployed from the budget office as part of the cleansing ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari after it was discovered that Budget 2016 was “padded”.
First to be moved was the Director General of the Budget Office, Alhaji Yahaya Gusau, who was appointed last August.
A former Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Lagos State Mr. Ben Akabueze, was appointed as the Special Adviser to the President of National Planning. He will work with the Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma.
Also yesterday, 162 other directors in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were swapped.
All redeployed officers were mandated to resume latest today in their new offices or risk termination of their appointments.
It was learnt that the government wielded the big stick in line with the pledge of President Buhari to clean up the Budget Office.
A source in the Presidency said last night: “The government has approved the redeployment of 22 top officials of the Budget Office to other MDAs. Those posted out are four directors, six deputy directors and 12 assistant directors
“But based on efficiency auditing, 14 others have been brought from other MDAs to the Budget Office”.
The source added: “Actually, the posting affected 184 civil servants, 22 of who were redeployed from the Budget Office. The other 162 officers from some MDAs were swapped around too.
“There is a circular to this effect already from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).”
Mr. Akpandem James, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Budget and Planning said last night: “I can confirm that some directors have been posted out of Budget Office and others brought on board.”
Addressing the Nigerian community in Saudi Arabia last month, President Buhari vowed to deal with those behind the shoddy preparation of the 2016 Budget.
