FG: Nigeria Has Fulfilled Its 2023 Financial Obligations to AU

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Nigeria has fulfilled its financial obligations to the African Union (AU) by making full payment of its assessed contributions for the year 2023, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, has said.

Lamuwa stated this yesterday on the sidelines of the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Information, State House, Abuja, Mr. Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Permanent Secretary explained that the payment has demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to its responsibilities as an AU member-state.

Lamuwa praised President Bola Tinubu for living up to expectations not only as the Chairperson of ECOWAS but also as a president who emphasised prompt payment of financial assessments.

During the Executive Council meeting, the Permanent Secretary shared Nigeria’s stance on the proposed 2024 Budget of the AU.
He welcomed the consideration of the economic outlook of African countries and the execution rate of AU departments and organs, over the past three years, in the budget drafting process.

According to him: ‘‘Nigeria emphasised the importance of an austerity-driven, result-oriented budget that avoids duplication.
‘‘Accountability and prudent resource management were also highlighted to encourage other member countries to fulfill their financial obligations”.
He called for synergy and complementarity among AU organs and departments and requested that the AU Commission (AUC) reduce travel costs by hosting more meetings at its headquarters in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.

He also stressed the need for compliance with internal audit processes to ensure transparency and accountability.
Lamuwa also highlighted that the ministerial-level meeting preceding the Heads of State’s participation adopted the theme of Education for the AU in 2024.

He noted that this aligns well with President Tinubu’s focus on education as a priority area domestically, making his leadership in Nigeria and ECOWAS timely and beneficial.    Nigeria is one of the major financial contributors to the African Union (AU), alongside four other member-states.
The AU’s 2023 budget of $654.8 million is primarily financed through annual statutory contributions and voluntary contributions from development partners, as well as other miscellaneous income.

Development partners play a crucial role in supporting the AU’s budget, covering at least 67 per cent of the total amount while member-states, including Nigeria, contribute to the remaining balance of the budget based on the approved scale of assessment by the Executive Council.