Tinubu becomes first Nigerian president to receive proposed UN budget — Envoy
Abdullateef Fowewe
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has presented the proposed 2027 United Nations budget to President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, describing the moment as a historic milestone for the country.
Ibrahim, who currently chairs the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters, handed over a seven-volume document containing the proposed budget on Monday.
Speaking to journalists afterward, he emphasised the significance of the occasion.
“President Bola Tinubu made history to be the first President in 66 years to receive budget for 2027 from the United Nations, and it’s a big deal,” Ibrahim said.
He elaborated, “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. 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.”
According to Ibrahim, the proposed budget totals around $14 billion, with approximately $3.4 billion allocated to the UN’s regular activities and about $8.5 billion for peacekeeping operations.
He stressed that the figures remain a proposal and still require approval by UN member states after further discussion and possible adjustments.
The presentation follows the formal submission of the proposed programme budget by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the Fifth Committee earlier in October 2026. Official UN figures put the core regular budget proposal at about $3.3 billion rising to roughly $3.4 billion when including major construction projects, representing a slight reduction from the previous year amid ongoing reform efforts and liquidity challenges at the world body.
Peacekeeping budgets are handled separately and typically run higher.
Nigeria’s chairmanship of the influential Fifth Committee marks a notable diplomatic role for the country.
Ibrahim has highlighted the position as an opportunity to promote accountability, reduce waste, and ensure timely budget processes.
Nigeria recently cleared outstanding dues amounting to about $6.3 million toward its regular budget and peacekeeping assessments, a move Ibrahim publicly credited to Tinubu’s administration.
