Precious Nwonu, Enugu

President Bola Tinubu has received the proposed 2027 United Nations budget, with Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the global body, Jimoh Ibrahim, describing the presentation as a historic milestone for the country.

Ibrahim, who chairs the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee responsible for administrative and budgetary matters, presented the seven-volume document to Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after the presentation, Ibrahim said it was the first time in 66 years that a Nigerian president had received the proposed UN budget through the process.

He explained that the document, submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the Fifth Committee, was presented to Nigeria because the country is a member of the international organisation.

According to him, his responsibility as committee chairman made it necessary to bring the proposed budget to the country’s leadership.

Ibrahim described the development as significant, noting that receiving the full proposed budget was an important moment in Nigeria’s engagement with the United Nations.

The diplomat said the proposed budget covered the UN’s regular operations and peacekeeping activities, with approximately $3.4bn earmarked for the regular budget and $8.5bn for peacekeeping operations.

Although Ibrahim put the overall figure at about $14bn, the two amounts he cited total $11.9bn.

He clarified that the document had not received final approval and would undergo further deliberations, during which member states could propose adjustments to the figures.

“The budget still has to be approved. This is a proposed budget. It’s at the proposed stage,” he said, adding that spending would commence after the final budget had been approved.

When asked about potential benefits for Nigeria, Ibrahim declined to provide specific details, explaining that discussions on the proposed budget were still ongoing.

He, however, pointed to the construction of a $267m United Nations conference centre in Kenya as an example of the organisation’s investment in facilities within member states.

The proposed 2027 budget will now undergo further scrutiny and possible revisions before UN member states approve the final spending plan.