Ben Akabueze Explained

Office:Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Term Start:2016
Term End:2024
Predecessor:Tijjani Mohammed Abdullahi
Successor:Tanimu Yakubu
Office2:Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget for Lagos State
Term Start2:2007
Term End2:2015
Ben Akabueze
Alma Mater:University of Lagos
Lagos Business School
Harvard Kennedy School
Nationality:Nigerian
Occupation:Chartered Accountant

Ben Akabueze is a Nigerian Chartered Accountant and the former Director General of the Budget office of the Federation, Federal Republic of Nigeria.[1] He served as the CEO of NAL Bank Plc (now Sterling Bank Plc) and was for over two terms Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget with the Lagos State Government.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Education and personal life

Akabueze obtained a B.Sc in Accounting from the University of Lagos and a postgraduate certificate in Management from the Lagos Business School.[6] He also holds a certificate in economic development from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, USA.

He is the Pastor-in-charge of Lagos Province 39 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God[7] and is married to Ngozi, the Head of Foundations of Sapphires (a non profit organisation)[8] and CEO of Havilah Technologies Ltd.

Career

Akabueze was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of NAL Bank Plc in 2000 a post he retained till its merger in December 2005 to become Sterling Bank Plc, at which he served as Executive Director.[9] He was thereafter in January 2007 appointed as the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget by the Lagos State Government, a position he held till May 2015.[7] In February 2016 he was appointed as Special Adviser to the President on National Planning and was made the Director General of Budget Office in June.[3] On 17 May 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari reappointed Akabueze as the Director General of Budget Office.[10] Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Fellow, Institute of Credit Administration (FCA) and Fellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers (FCIBN)

Ben Akabueze is also the head pastor of The King's Court Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).[11]

Public speaking

As the Director General of Nigeria's Budget Office he has engaged in public speaking at several events including Lagos Business School breakfast club where he spoke on budget and national strategy; leverage and synergy potentials,[12] KPMG's Nigeria Tax Breakfast seminar where he made a presentation on key objectives and expected impact of the FGN 2021 Budget making a case for the need for increased domestic revenue by state governments[13] and other events where he continues to advocate for increased domestic revenue generation and more efficient management of allocated revenue.[14] [15] [16]

Legal issues

In October 2022, a retired staff of the Budget Office of the Federation, Bilkisu Sannusi accused Ben Akabueze, of abuse of power in a suit filed at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. She alleged that Akabueze, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation in collaboration with officials of the Finance Ministry and the Head of Service of the Federation had removed her name from payment vouchers, due to her refusal to compromise on the manipulation of budget proposals by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA).[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: FG raises MDAs operating surplus to N916.87bn . The Punch.
  2. News: Buhari appoints Ben Akabueze, DG Budget Office – Vanguard News. 17 September 2017. Vanguard News. 9 June 2016.
  3. Web site: Ben Akabueze. 17 September 2017.
  4. News: Lagos IGR hits N20b monthly – The Nation Nigeria. 17 September 2017. The Nation Nigeria. 10 May 2013.
  5. Web site: Biography Akabueze Ben Ifeanyi. Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. 2019. Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201025133003/https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/akabueze-ben-ifeanyi/ . 25 October 2020 .
  6. News: Biography/Profile/ History Of Mr Ben Ifeanyi Akabueze the Newly Appointed Special Adviser to President on National Planning. – Daily Media Nigeria. 17 September 2017. dailymedia.com.ng.
  7. Web site: Our Head Pastor Ben Akabueze. RCCG The King's Court Lagos. 17 September 2017.
  8. News: NGOZI AKABUEZE – Economy is changing women – The Nation Nigeria. 17 September 2017. The Nation Nigeria. 15 May 2016.
  9. Web site: LBS Alumnus Becomes DG of Budget Office. 2016-06-16. Lagos Business School. 2020-05-24.
  10. Web site: Buhari Renews Akabueze's Tenure as Budget Office DG. 2020-05-17. THISDAYLIVE. en-US. 2020-05-24.
  11. Web site: Our Head Pastor Ben Akabueze. RCCG The King's Court Lagos. en. 2020-05-24.
  12. Web site: 2020-02-04. Ben Akabueze Speaks at Lagos Business School Breakfast Club. 2021-06-07. Proshare.
  13. Web site: Uchechukwumgemezu. Chidinma. 2021-04-21. Ben Akabueze on Increased Domestic Revenue. 2021-06-07. Today Nigeria.
  14. Web site: Soji-ojo. Akinwande. 2021-05-05. Spend More on Infrastructure by Ben Akabueze. 2021-06-07.
  15. Web site: Emejo. James. 2021-01-06. Insufficient Budget to Meet the People's needs. 2021-06-07. Thisday live.
  16. Web site: Elumoye. Deji. 2020-11-10. Ben Akabueze on Payment of Workers Salaries. 2021-06-07. Thisday live.
  17. Web site: Ejekwonyilo. Ameh . 2022-10-31. Alleged Budget Padding: Court to hear retired civil servant’s suit against ministry, budget office. 2023-04-14. Thisday live.