Recession: Nigeria seeks review of assessed contributions to UN

Nigeria has asked the UN to review its assessed contributions to the organisation for 2016 in view of the economic recession in the country.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, made the call at the UN when she met with the Chairman of Fifth Committee, Mr Kingston Rhodes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria has paid its Regular Assessed Contribution and Peacekeeping Contribution to the UN up to 2015.

Nigeria is, however, currently expected to pay outstanding contributions of N10. 2 dollars.

“Due to recession, we want something done to review our dues and we want the UN to reconsider our assessment due to the realities of the time.

“What Nigeria is being asked to pay now is on the high side. Nigeria is committed to paying its contributions but we want some considerations.

“We want something to be done to re-adjust our scale,” Oyo-Ita said.

NAN reports that Nigeria’s scale of assessment for 2013 to 2015 was 0.119 before the re-basing of the country’s economy in 2014.

However, with the re-basing of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 500 million dollars, the scale of assessment of Nigeria increased to 0.209 for the period 2016 to 2018.

Nigeria has been pursuing the re-adjustment of the scale due to the current economic recession in the country.

Responding, Rhodes told Oyo-Ita that the UN was aware of the economic situation in the country but that the effort was hindered by the General Assembly Resolution that cancelled annual review of scale of assessment.

The Fifth Committee Chairman explained that the Resolution now established three years minimum period of scale of assessment.

According to him, therefore, Nigeria’s scale will be due for review in 2018, the next scale year.

NAN reports that the Fifth Committee is the committee of the General Assembly with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters.

Based on the reports of the Fifth Committee, the General Assembly considers and approves the budget of the organisation.

The financial situation of the UN as provided by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon indicated a decline in the assessments on regular budget.

Records confirmed that 126 member states had paid their Regular budgets, while 67 had yet to pay as at Oct. 5, 2016.

As regards the peacekeeping operation budget, 25 member states had paid their contributions as at Sept. 30, 2016.