UN budget: Ibrahim seeks fair deal for Nigeria, Africa

The Nigeria Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, says Africa must receive fair consideration in the United Nations budget under his chairmanship of the Fifth Committee.

Ibrahim said Nigeria would also push for adequate recognition of projects and programmes that directly affected developing countries.

The Nigerian diplomat told newsmen after chairing the first fifth committee meeting of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly that equity and justice would be central considerations as Member States scrutinised the organisation’s budget.

“We want to make sure that there is a reflection of equity and justice and greater accountability, particularly in developing countries.

“And in mind is Nigeria. We want to see that Nigeria occupies a very great place in the United Nations budget this year,” he said.

Ibrahim emphasised that the broader African interest would remain important as delegations examined projects, programmes and allocations.

“Beyond that, Africa must have a good share of the budget. The budget for Africa projects must be well funded,” he stressed

The envoy said the committee had not reached the stage of determining specific figures, as member states were still examining proposals and programmes.

“We haven’t come to the figures, so we are looking at the project and the programme,” Ibrahim explained.

He said Nigeria’s leadership of the committee provided an opportunity to draw greater attention to the development priorities of the continent.

He also noted the influence of the Group of 77 and China in the committee’s deliberations.

He said developing countries would continue to engage collectively to promote fairness in the allocation of UN resources.

The Chairman also noted that the UN system must be properly coordinated if budgetary resources were to produce meaningful results.

He said success at the end of the session would not be measured merely by passage of a budget.

According to him, the quality and fairness of allocations would also matter.

“The concrete result is that we pass the budget, and Nigeria has a good share of the budget.

“Beyond that, Africa must have a good share of the budget,” Ibrahim said.

The fifth committee’s deliberations will continue through the main session as delegations negotiate the UN’s administrative and financial priorities.