President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday received the United Nations’ proposed 14 billion dollars budget for 2027, marking what Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the global body, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, described as a historic milestone in the country’s 66 years of membership of the organisation.
The seven-volume budget document was presented to the President at his official residence in the State House, Abuja, by Ibrahim, who currently chairs the United Nations General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters.
Speaking with journalists after meeting with the President, the Nigerian envoy explained that the presentation was particularly significant because it was the first time since Nigeria joined the United Nations in 1960 that its representative would preside over the committee responsible for considering the organisation’s budget.
“This is the first time in 66 years that Nigeria will chair the Budget and Administration Committee. It is the first time, and we do not know when it will happen again in history.
“So President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is making history by being able to receive this budget. He is the first Nigerian president in 66years to receive the UN budget from the United Nations”
According to the envoy, the proposed regular budget stands at about 3.4 billion dollars, while the peacekeeping budget is about 8.5 billion dollars.
He put the combined figure at about 14 billion dollars, equivalent to between N36 trillion and N40 trillion.
“It is not a small matter for a country to receive the entire UN budget. I am happy that the president has received the seven volumes of the proposed budget”
Ibrahim said the document remained a proposal and would undergo detailed negotiations and approval by member states before implementation.
“It is the proposal submitted to member countries. Thereafter, the budget is discussed in detail, the figure are adjusted, and the final budget is approved before spending commences”, he added.
Nigeria officially assumed the chairmanship of the United Nations General Assembly’s Fifth Committee, responsible for the organisation’s budget and administrative affairs on September 3.
As chairman of the fifth committee, Nigeria will oversee deliberations on the organisation’s budgets, financial governance, human resources, institutional efficiency, oversight and the resources required to implement mandates approved by Members States.
The fifth committee occupies a strategic position within the General Assembly, as decisions relating to peace and security, development, human rights, humanitarian operations and other areas of the UN system ultimately require financial and administrative support.
Its recommendations therefore have direct implications for how mandates approved by the General Assembly are financed and implemented.
-9News Nigeria.
