Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has presided over the first plenary meeting of the Fifth Committee of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Ibrahim, who was elected Chair of the Fifth Committee for the 81st Session, declared the meeting open and thanked member states for their confidence in Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the importance of transparency, accountability and effective oversight in strengthening trust in the United Nations.
The Nigerian envoy said the Bureau, elected on June 2, would work collectively to ensure the committee’s responsibilities were discharged successfully and on time.
Ibrahim also drew attention to the Secretariat’s note on the organisation of work, including provisions concerning the dates of the session and the submission of membership lists.
During the deliberations, member states stressed the need for careful scrutiny of UN budget proposals and their implications for programme delivery.
They also called for greater efficiency while ensuring that the United Nations retains the capacity to carry out its responsibilities effectively.
The meeting further highlighted the need to give adequate attention and resources to the development pillar and the priorities of developing countries to support the implementation of agreed mandates.
Member states also emphasised the importance of equitable geographical representation among UN staff, in line with the UN Charter, to ensure a representative and balanced Secretariat.
The Fifth Committee is responsible for the administrative and budgetary affairs of the United Nations, making its work central to the financing and effective functioning of the organisation.
