Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has presented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the UN’s seven-volume proposed budget for 2027, describing the development as a historic milestone for the country’s role in the organization’s financial administration.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received the United Nations’ proposed 2027 budget from Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, in a development highlighting Nigeria’s growing involvement in the organization’s budgetary and administrative processes.
Ibrahim, who chairs the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters, presented the seven-volume document to the President on Monday following its submission to the committee by the UN Secretary-General.
The envoy described the presentation as a significant moment for Nigeria, noting that it was the first time in 66 years that a Nigerian representative had chaired the committee responsible for overseeing the organization’s administrative and budgetary affairs.
According to Ibrahim, the development represents an important milestone in Nigeria’s participation in the United Nations’ financial decision-making process.
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“This is the first time in 66 years that Nigeria will chair the Budget and Administrative Committee. It is the first time, and we do not know when it will happen again in history,” he said.
He added that Tinubu’s receipt of the document was a notable moment, describing the President as the first Nigerian leader in 66 years to receive the proposed UN budget through this process.
UN Budget Proposal Put at Billions of Dollars
Speaking on the scale of the proposed expenditure, Ibrahim said the UN’s regular budget stood at approximately $3.4 billion, while its peacekeeping budget was estimated at about $8.5 billion.
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He put the combined figure at approximately $14 billion, equivalent to between ₦36 trillion and ₦40 trillion, based on the conversion cited during his remarks.
Ibrahim stressed the significance of Nigeria’s involvement in the presentation of a budget of such magnitude, saying the document reflected the scale of the United Nations’ global operations and financial responsibilities.
“It is not a small matter for a country to receive the entire UN budget,” he said, expressing satisfaction that the President had received all seven volumes of the proposal.
Proposed Budget Still Awaits Approval
Despite the presentation, Ibrahim clarified that the document remains a proposal and has not yet received final approval for implementation.
He explained that the budget would undergo detailed discussions among UN member states, during which proposed figures could be reviewed and adjusted before the final version is approved.
“This is a proposed budget. It is the proposal submitted to member countries. Thereafter, the budget is discussed in detail, the figures are adjusted, and the final budget is approved before spending commences,” he explained.
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The clarification underscores the distinction between presenting the proposed budget and authorizing expenditure, as the UN’s budgetary process requires further deliberations and approval by member states.
Nigeria’s Expected Benefits Yet to Be Disclosed
When asked about the specific benefits Nigeria could derive from the budget process, Ibrahim declined to provide details, stating that discussions with his colleagues were still ongoing.
“As for Nigeria, I do not want to discuss what Nigeria will get from the budget. That would be going too far, because my colleagues and I are still discussing it,” he said.
His remarks indicate that the outcome of the ongoing negotiations, including any specific benefits for Nigeria, had not been disclosed at the time of the presentation.
UN’s Major Investments Highlighted
Ibrahim also drew attention to the scale of the United Nations’ infrastructure investments, citing the construction of a conference centre in Kenya estimated to cost $260 million.
“A lot is happening. As of today, the United Nations is building a $260 million conference centre in Kenya. You can see what that means,” he said.
The example highlighted the financial demands associated with the organization’s administrative infrastructure and international operations.
A Milestone for Nigeria’s Multilateral Engagement
Nigeria’s chairmanship of the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee places its representative at the centre of discussions concerning the organization’s administrative and budgetary affairs.
The committee plays a key role in considering financial and administrative matters, including the UN’s proposed budgets, before recommendations and decisions are taken through the relevant UN processes.
While the presentation to Tinubu marks a notable moment in Nigeria’s engagement with the organization, the proposed 2027 budget remains subject to negotiations and approval by member states.
The final outcome of those deliberations will determine the approved expenditure framework for the United Nations in 2027, while further discussions will be needed before any specific benefits to Nigeria can be established.
