Nigeria has called on developed countries to honour their development-financing commitments as the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee considers funding and governance reforms for the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system.

Delivering Nigeria’s national statement, the head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Enitan, said persistent funding shortfalls threaten the system’s continuity and effectiveness, as it coordinates UN development activities worldwide.

“Nigeria believes that changes to funding arrangements should not diminish the responsibility of major donor countries to sustain and strengthen their support for the RC system,” Mr Enitan said.

He added that efforts to broaden the financing base should supplement, not replace, existing commitments.

He called for predictable, multiyear funding, full delivery of aid pledges and stronger contributions from traditional and emerging partners.

Mr Enitan noted that Africa hosts 53 of the system’s 132 offices worldwide, about 40 per cent, and linked its work to the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

UN’s deputy secretary-general, Amina Mohammed, presented proposals to place the system on a more sustainable financial footing.

She said it coordinated more than $20 billion in annual UN programming across 160 countries and territories.

Nigeria pledged constructive engagement in the budget negotiations and expressed hope for timely agreement on the reforms. 

(NAN)