Tinubu Makes History as First Nigerian President to Receive Proposed UN Budget in 66 Years

According to Punch News report President Bola Tinubu has received the proposed 2027 United Nations budget from Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, in a development described as a historic milestone for the country.

Ibrahim presented the seven-volume document to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following its submission by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters.

The Nigerian envoy, who chairs the committee, said the presentation marked the first time in 66 years that a Nigerian president had received the proposed UN budget through this process.

He explained that bringing the document to Nigeria was appropriate because the country is a member of the United Nations and currently holds a key position in the organisation’s budgetary process.

The proposed budget, which covers the UN’s regular activities and peacekeeping operations for 2027, was estimated by Ibrahim at approximately $14 billion.

According to the envoy, about $3.4 billion was earmarked for the organisation’s regular budget, while approximately $8.5 billion was proposed for peacekeeping operations.

However, the figures provided for these two components total $11.9 billion, leaving a discrepancy with the overall $14 billion estimate.

Ibrahim stressed that the document remains a proposal and has not received final approval. Member states are expected to examine the figures, negotiate adjustments and approve the final budget before spending begins.

When asked about the specific benefits Nigeria might receive from the proposed budget, the ambassador declined to provide details, explaining that discussions with other committee members were ongoing.

He nevertheless pointed to the UN’s investments in member countries, citing the construction of a conference centre in Kenya as an example of the organisation’s spending on facilities.

The presentation highlights Nigeria’s current role in the UN’s administrative and financial deliberations. However, the receipt of the proposed budget does not mean that the funds belong to Nigeria or that the country has been allocated a specific amount.

The proposal will undergo further negotiations among UN member states before the organisation’s final 2027 budget is approved.