Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Jimoh Ibrahim, has been elected as chairman of budget and administration for the UN General Assembly’s fifth committee.

His appointment comes at a time the UN faces a budget shortfall of over $1.8 billion following cuts to foreign aid.

“This period requires the United Nations to manage deficit financing arising from converging complexities that place significant burdens on revenue,” the former senator said in his acceptance speech on Tuesday.

“Given heightened tensions, a prompt, critical, and innovative strategy is required to create opportunities within this intricate environment.”

The diplomat said he would draw from his experience as a former member of the Nigerian senate committee on budget and appropriation and chairman of inter-parliamentary relations to forge consensus.

Ibrahim also pointed to President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms in Nigeria as a blueprint for shaping the multilateral institution.

“Mr President, as your student in the reforms class, be assured that those teaching slides will reflect in the budget, appropriations and human resources of the United Nations,” Ibrahim said in a statement.
He thanked the UN and assured the body of his commitment to providing strategy and stewards corporate governance.