Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Nigeria has called for adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for the United Nations Resident Coordinator System, emphasising its strategic importance to effective development coordination and the advancement of sustainable development across Member States. This was contained in a statement signed by Mrs. Eno Olotu, FCAI, mnipr, Director, Press and Public Relations.
The call was made in Nigeria’s National Statement on Agenda Item 138, “Proposed Programme Budget for 2027: Resident Coordinator System,” delivered by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Olumuyiwa Enitan Abel, at the 10th plenary of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary Committee) of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
Nigeria stressed that strengthening the Resident Coordinator System is a shared objective in advancing multilateralism and enhancing the effectiveness of the UN development system. It noted that a strengthened and well-resourced system is essential for delivering coherent development support aligned with national priorities and needs.
Nigeria emphasised that adequate, predictable and sustainable financing is critical to maintaining the core coordination capacities of the Resident Coordinator System, retaining institutional expertise and enabling Resident Coordinators to effectively discharge the responsibilities entrusted to them by Member States.
The country highlighted the strategic importance of the Resident Coordinator System to Africa, noting that 53 of the 132 Resident Coordinator Offices worldwide are located on the continent, representing approximately 40 per cent of its global geographical footprint.
The statement further stressed that the extensive presence of the system in Africa underscores its vital role in supporting countries to implement their national development priorities, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Nigeria therefore called on countries of the Global North to fulfil their development assistance commitments and urged major donor countries to sustain and substantially increase their core contributions to the UN development system through predictable, sustained and multi-year funding.
It stressed that efforts to broaden the funding base should complement, rather than replace, the responsibilities of major donor countries, noting that a well-resourced Resident Coordinator System is indispensable to delivering coherent, reliable and effective UN support for sustainable development.
Nigeria reaffirmed its readiness to engage constructively in the consideration of the reports and in efforts to strengthen the Resident Coordinator System and advance a more effective, responsive and adequately resourced multilateral development framework.
The session marked a significant moment for Nigeria, as the United Nations Secretary-General’s report on the Resident Coordinator System was presented by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, a distinguished Nigerian. Adding to Nigeria’s prominent role, the Fifth Committee, responsible for Administrative and Budgetary matters, was chaired by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
END
