Nigeria has rallied African ambassadors ahead of the opening of the United Nations budget negotiations, with Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, leading the talks.
Ibrahim, Chairman of the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee, convened an interactive dinner with African ambassadors at Nigeria House in New York on Sunday, ahead of the committee’s first meeting of the 81st General Assembly session.
Ambassadors from Morocco, The Gambia and Guinea, alongside the Chair of the African Group’s Fifth Committee experts, expressed support for Nigeria’s leadership and pledged to work collectively during the negotiations.
Ibrahim said the meeting was aimed at briefing African colleagues on preparations for the session, addressing their concerns and strengthening coordination between ambassadors and technical experts.
He thanked the African Group for supporting his emergence as chairman and pledged to protect the continent’s interests during deliberations.
“Africa is never treated as second-class citizen,” Ibrahim said, stressing the need for the continent to engage the international system on an equal footing.
The Fifth Committee is responsible for the UN’s administrative and budgetary matters, including recommending how resources should be allocated to implement mandates approved by member states.
The committee’s main session runs from Oct. 5 to Dec. 4, with the proposed programme plan and budget for 2027 among the major issues before delegates.
Ibrahim said ensuring that relevant reports reached member states early enough for proper scrutiny would be one of his priorities. He also stressed the importance of efficiency, effectiveness and financial accountability in managing the organisation’s resources.
He urged African ambassadors and experts to work closely throughout the negotiations, saying technical preparedness and political coordination were essential to securing fair and effective outcomes for Africa and other UN groups.
