President Bola Tinubu has received the proposed $14 billion of the United Nations budget from Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim.
Ibrahim, who chairs the UN committee responsible for budgetary and administrative matters, presented the seven-volume document to the President at the State House, Abuja.
Speaking to journalists after the presentation, Ibrahim described the occasion as historic, saying it was the first time in 66 years that a Nigerian president had received the proposed UN budget through the process.
“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.”
“So, President Bola Tinubu is making history by being able to receive this budget. He is the first Nigerian president in 66 years to receive the UN budget from the United Nations.” Ibrahim stated.
He said the proposed budget covered the organisation’s regular activities and peacekeeping operations, with approximately $3.4bn allocated to the regular budget and $8.5bn for peacekeeping.
Ibrahim put the total at about $14bn, although the figures he cited for the two components add up to $11.9bn.
He stressed that the document was still a proposal and had not received final approval from UN member states.
“The budget still has to be approved. This is a proposed budget. It’s at the proposed stage. You submit it to your country, and thereafter the budget is finally discussed. Figures are adjusted, and then finally the final budget is approved and spending commences,” he said.
Asked about the support Nigeria could receive from the UN, Ibrahim said discussions on the proposed budget were ongoing and declined to specify what Nigeria might benefit from it.
He also cited the construction of a $267m UN conference centre in Kenya as an example of the organisation’s investment in facilities in member states.
The proposed 2027 budget will undergo further deliberations by the committee, with member states expected to negotiate expenditure priorities and funding requirements before final approval.
