President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received the proposed 2027 United Nations (UN) budget, in what Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, described as a historic milestone for the country.
Ibrahim presented the seven-volume budget document to Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. The presentation marked the first time in 66 years that a Nigerian president had received the proposed UN budget through the process, according to the ambassador.
Ibrahim, who chairs the United Nations General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters, explained that the document had been submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the committee before being presented to Nigeria as a member state.
He said the presentation was significant because it reflected Nigeria’s participation in the organisation’s budgetary and administrative processes. Tinubu reportedly commended the ambassador during the meeting, telling him, “I am proud of you.”
According to Ibrahim, the proposed budget covers the UN’s regular activities and peacekeeping operations. He put the overall proposed expenditure at approximately $14 billion, with about $3.4 billion allocated to the regular budget and $8.5 billion earmarked for peacekeeping operations.
However, the figures cited for the two components amount to $11.9 billion, leaving a discrepancy between the itemised amounts and the stated overall figure. The proposed budget remains subject to further review, adjustments and approval by UN member states before spending can begin.
The ambassador emphasised that receiving the document did not mean Nigeria had approved the budget. He explained that the proposal would undergo further deliberations, during which member states could examine the figures and recommend changes before a final decision was reached.
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