Nigeria seeks review of UN funding over ‘undue’ influence

Nigeria has called for a review of the current funding structure of the United Nations (UN), citing the need for a more balanced and truly multilateral system.

The call for reform came on the heels of an argument by the Deputy Speaker of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who is leading the country’s delegation at an ongoing meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York, United States (U.S.) that an all-inclusive funding mechanism for UN was needed.

Submitting Nigeria’s contributions to IPU’s draft resolution of the preparatory committee for the upcoming Sixth World Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva, Switzerland, Kalu said the prevailing dependency on a few major donor countries allowed them to dictate priorities, undermining the principles of multilateralism.

Specifically, he said the proposed reform aimed to reduce the undue influence of major donors and promote more equitable decision-making, stressing that this, in turn, would facilitate greater cooperation and collective action in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Head of Nigerian delegation also urged other UN member states to support the proposed reform, arguing that it was essential for creating a more effective and responsive global governance system.

Kalu said: “Nigeria calls for a review of the current funding structure of the United Nations. The prevailing dependency on a few major donor countries allows these nations to dictate priorities—embodied in the adage ‘he who pays the piper dictates the tune’.

“To ensure a balanced and truly multilateral system, the funding participation scope should be expanded to include a broader range of nations, thereby reducing undue influence and fostering equitable decision-making.”

Kalu also proposed the inclusion of “prosperity” in the current theme of the conference, which is “A World in Turmoil: Parliamentary Cooperation and Multilateralism for Peace and Justice for All” to read: “A World in Turmoil: Parliamentary Cooperation and Multilateralism for Peace, Justice and Prosperity.”

Explaining reason for the proposal, the deputy speaker said the inclusion of “prosperity” would underscore the essential role that economic and social well-being play in creating an environment conducive to lasting peace and justice.

The deputy speaker also proposed the amendment of Article 108 of the UN Charter Provisions to help secure permanent seats for the continent of Africa.

“Nigeria notes that while the UN Charter and its provisions are foundational for ensuring peace, Article 108 presents significant obstacles, especially in securing permanent representation on the UN Security Council for countries from the Global South.

“While Nigeria accepts the Charter in its entirety, a dialogue is needed to reform provisions that hinder the full realisation of multilateralism. Amending Article 108 is essential to enabling a more inclusive and representative global governance framework.”