NAIROBI/Kenya – In a significant development, Nigeria has fulfilled its financial obligations to the African Union (AU) by making full payment of its assessed contributions for the year 2023. The confirmation came from Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the 43rd Ordinary Session of the AU’s Executive Council in Nairobi on Saturday.
Ambassador Lamuwa commended President Bola Tinubu for his dedication as both the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and a President who prioritizes timely financial assessments. “This payment demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to its responsibilities as an AU member-state,” he emphasized.
During the Executive Council meeting, Ambassador Lamuwa also shared Nigeria’s stance on the proposed 2024 AU Budget. He welcomed the inclusion of African countries’ economic outlook and the performance assessment of AU departments and organs over the past three years in the budget drafting process. “Nigeria emphasized the importance of an austerity-driven, results-oriented budget that avoids duplication,” he stated. “Accountability and prudent resource management were also highlighted to encourage other member countries to fulfill their financial obligations.”
The Permanent Secretary further called for synergy and complementarity among AU organs and departments, urging the AU Commission (AUC) to reduce travel costs by hosting more meetings at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also stressed the significance of complying with internal audit processes to ensure transparency and accountability.
President Tinubu, who is currently serving as the ECOWAS Chairperson, is scheduled to attend the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting on Sunday in Nairobi, where discussions on other important matters will take place.
Ambassador Lamuwa also highlighted that the ministerial-level meeting preceding the participation of Heads of State had adopted the theme of Education for the AU in 2024. He noted that this aligns well with President Tinubu’s domestic focus on education as a priority area, making his leadership in Nigeria and ECOWAS timely and beneficial.
Nigeria, along with four other member-states, is a major financial contributor to the AU. The AU’s 2023 budget, totaling $654.8 million, is primarily financed through annual statutory contributions, voluntary contributions from development partners, and other miscellaneous income. Development partners play a crucial role in supporting the AU’s budget, covering at least 67% of the total amount, while member-states, including Nigeria, contribute to the remaining balance based on the approved scale of assessment by the Executive Council.
