THE United Nations (UN) member-states, including Nigeria are owing the organisation more than $4.4 billion in regular budget and other outstanding dues even as funding declines for several global programmes in the UN system.
Nigeria in particular is owing the $2.3 million based on the recently released figures from the UN headquarters regarding the status of financial contributions to the world body as at the end of March 2011.
Based on the UN statement, the breakdown of Nigeria’s debt to the organisation includes a $1.8 million debt being Nigeria’s outstanding contribution to the regular budget, $377, 282 outstanding dues for UN peacekeeping operations and $129,880 outstanding contributions for international tribunals.
But owing less money are Egypt and South Africa, the two other African nations at the UN normally grouped with Nigeria in terms of influence and status among the African group. For instance, any time the discussion comes up about an African country joining the UN Security Council as permanent member, the names of Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa are often mentioned as the most likely contenders.
While Nigeria owes regular budget, both Egypt and South Africa have paid up their regular budget contributions as at when due, according to the UN statement.
Egypt for instance has paid up its regular budget contributions and does not owe anything on that account. But the country owes $696,905 as outstanding contributions on peacekeeping and another $156,121 as outstanding international tribunals’ contributions. In all, Egypt owes less than a million dollars with a total of $853,426.
South Africa even owes less than Egypt. Unlike Nigeria, South Africa owes nothing in the regular budget and international tribunals’ contribution, but maintains only a total of $54, 419, which is the country’s outstanding contribution for peacekeeping operations.
A number of countries however owe the UN nothing. These are Sweden, Slovakia, Singapore, Netherlands, Latvia, Israel, Ireland, Denmark, Canada, and Azerbaijan.
However, there are much bigger UN debtors outside of Africa, starting with the United States that owes the world body a total of $1.4 billion, more than a fourth of the total debt owed to the UN by member-states.
Also, China owes $146 million, Brazil owes $71 million, France owes $19 million, Germany owes $224 million, Greece owes $100 million, Italy owes $281 million, Japan owes $485 million, Mexico owes $59 million, Russia owes $8 million, Saudi Arabia owes $106 million, Ukraine owes $139 million, United Kingdom owes $313 million and Venezuela owes $26 million among others.
Normally, the UN budget contribution per country is not based on a flat or equal rate but assessed based on “the relative capacity of each country to pay.” That capacity itself is also determined by the country’s Gross National Income once adjustments for external debt and low per capita income has been factored in. Those decisions are taken and reviewed periodically by the United Nations General Assembly.
For instance, the UN also decided that in spite of that measurement, the “UN should not be overly dependent on any one member to finance its operations. Thus, there is a ‘ceiling’ rate, setting the maximum amount any member is assessed for the regular budget.”
Currently, the U.S. tops the chart with an assessment to pay 22 per cent of the U.S. budget, followed by Japan with 12.5 per cent, Germany with eight per cent, UK, 6.6 per cent, Italy 4.9 per cent, Canada 3.2 per cent, China and Spain 3.1 per cent, Mexico 2.3 per cent, while the other members of the over 190-member -state world body contributes the balance of about 27 per cent. Nigeria’s own assessment is less than one per cent.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayNigeria in particular is owing the $2.3 million based on the recently released figures from the UN headquarters regarding the status of financial contributions to the world body as at the end of March 2011.
Based on the UN statement, the breakdown of Nigeria’s debt to the organisation includes a $1.8 million debt being Nigeria’s outstanding contribution to the regular budget, $377, 282 outstanding dues for UN peacekeeping operations and $129,880 outstanding contributions for international tribunals.
But owing less money are Egypt and South Africa, the two other African nations at the UN normally grouped with Nigeria in terms of influence and status among the African group. For instance, any time the discussion comes up about an African country joining the UN Security Council as permanent member, the names of Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa are often mentioned as the most likely contenders.
While Nigeria owes regular budget, both Egypt and South Africa have paid up their regular budget contributions as at when due, according to the UN statement.
Egypt for instance has paid up its regular budget contributions and does not owe anything on that account. But the country owes $696,905 as outstanding contributions on peacekeeping and another $156,121 as outstanding international tribunals’ contributions. In all, Egypt owes less than a million dollars with a total of $853,426.
South Africa even owes less than Egypt. Unlike Nigeria, South Africa owes nothing in the regular budget and international tribunals’ contribution, but maintains only a total of $54, 419, which is the country’s outstanding contribution for peacekeeping operations.
A number of countries however owe the UN nothing. These are Sweden, Slovakia, Singapore, Netherlands, Latvia, Israel, Ireland, Denmark, Canada, and Azerbaijan.
However, there are much bigger UN debtors outside of Africa, starting with the United States that owes the world body a total of $1.4 billion, more than a fourth of the total debt owed to the UN by member-states.
Also, China owes $146 million, Brazil owes $71 million, France owes $19 million, Germany owes $224 million, Greece owes $100 million, Italy owes $281 million, Japan owes $485 million, Mexico owes $59 million, Russia owes $8 million, Saudi Arabia owes $106 million, Ukraine owes $139 million, United Kingdom owes $313 million and Venezuela owes $26 million among others.
Normally, the UN budget contribution per country is not based on a flat or equal rate but assessed based on “the relative capacity of each country to pay.” That capacity itself is also determined by the country’s Gross National Income once adjustments for external debt and low per capita income has been factored in. Those decisions are taken and reviewed periodically by the United Nations General Assembly.
For instance, the UN also decided that in spite of that measurement, the “UN should not be overly dependent on any one member to finance its operations. Thus, there is a ‘ceiling’ rate, setting the maximum amount any member is assessed for the regular budget.”
Currently, the U.S. tops the chart with an assessment to pay 22 per cent of the U.S. budget, followed by Japan with 12.5 per cent, Germany with eight per cent, UK, 6.6 per cent, Italy 4.9 per cent, Canada 3.2 per cent, China and Spain 3.1 per cent, Mexico 2.3 per cent, while the other members of the over 190-member -state world body contributes the balance of about 27 per cent. Nigeria’s own assessment is less than one per cent.
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