President Bola Tinubu has acquired the United Nations’ proposed 2027 budget from Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, in what the envoy described as a historic improvement for the nation.
Ibrahim, who chairs the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters, introduced the seven-volume doc to the President following its submission by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
According to Ibrahim, the proposed common budget stands at about $3.4 billion, whereas the peacekeeping budget is roughly $8.5 billion.
He put the mixed determine at about $14 billion, equal to between N36 trillion and N40 trillion.
Nigeria’s chairmanship of the committee marks the first time in 66 years that the nation has led the physique accountable for the organisation’s budget and administrative affairs.
Nigeria’s historic position in the UN budget course of
Ibrahim described Nigeria’s chairmanship as a historic milestone, noting that the nation had not held the place in greater than six many years.
- “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,” he mentioned.
He additionally highlighted the importance of Tinubu receiving the proposed budget, describing the event as a first for a Nigerian president in 66 years.
- “So, President Bola Ahmed 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,” he mentioned.
Nigeria formally assumed the chairmanship of the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on September 3.
The committee oversees deliberations on the organisation’s budgets, monetary governance, human sources, institutional effectivity, oversight and the sources required to implement mandates accredited by member states.
Proposed budget awaits member states’ approval
Ibrahim clarified that the doc remained a proposal and would bear detailed negotiations and changes by member states earlier than closing approval and implementation.
- “It is the proposal submitted to member countries. Thereafter, the budget is discussed in detail, the figures are adjusted, and the final budget is approved before spending commences,” he defined.
The envoy declined to reveal the advantages Nigeria would possibly derive from the budget, saying discussions with different committee members have been ongoing.
- “As for Nigeria, I do not want to discuss what Nigeria will get from the budget. That would be going too far, because my colleagues and I are still discussing it,” he mentioned.
He additionally highlighted the size of the UN’s spending, citing the development of a $260 million convention centre in Kenya.
- “A lot is happening. As of today, the United Nations is building a $260 million conference centre in Kenya. You can see what that means,” Ibrahim mentioned.
Nigeria and the UN’s wider challenges
Nigeria’s chairmanship of the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee comes amid wider debates over the organisation’s governance, illustration and funding priorities.
The funding strain extends past refugee help. In March 2026, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs mentioned it wanted an additional $14.3 billion to fund its prioritised response for 87 million people dealing with extreme humanitarian crises worldwide.
