UNGA79: Nigeria seeks debt relief, demands permanent membership in Security Council

President Bola Tinubu called for inclusiveness, multilateralism and permanent membership of Nigeria and Africa on the UN Security Council.

Africa has long sought equal representation on the Council.

Every year, the UNGA elects five new members from different geographical zones to the Council for a two-year term. The continent has three rotating seats on the 15-member UN body.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday, Tinubu, addressing the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA), said reform of the Council had become imperative. “Some permanent members of the UN Security Council have sent encouraging, albeit tentative, signals of support on the issue of Security Council reform. We welcome the change in tone and call for an acceleration of the process,” he said.
“To reflect the diversity and pluralism of the world, the Security Council should be expanded to include permanent and non-permanent categories. We fully support Secretary-General Guterres’ efforts in this regard.

“Africa must be given the respect it deserves in the Security Council. Our continent is eligible to be in the category of permanent members of the Security Council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other permanent members.

Tinubu also called for debt relief for Nigeria and reform of the global financial architecture.
The President said, “We reiterate our call, particularly on countries in the Global South, to reform the international financial architecture and promote a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system.”

“Similarly, we must ensure that reform of the international financial system includes comprehensive debt relief measures that enable sustainable financing for development.
“Countries in the Global South cannot achieve meaningful economic development without special concessions and a review of their current debt burdens.”

Illicit financial flows

Tinubu also asserted the dangers of climate change, arms proliferation, coups on the African continent and human rights violations.
“Last year’s summit and the few years prior to it have brought us numerous challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, racism, human rights violations, food crises, hunger, irregular migration, piracy, a global pandemic, hyperinflation, nuclear proliferation, oppressive debt burdens, climate change and many other nuisances,” he added. “The fact that these challenges persist reflects our failures rather than our great achievements. Billions of dollars are spent waging wars and fanning the flames of conflict.

Our people need jobs. They need a decent life. They want affordable, quality education and healthcare for their children and their families. They must live in a healthy and safe environment. They need hope, and they need opportunity. ”

The President also spoke about the repatriation of proceeds of corruption and illicit financial flows, stressing that the repatriation of such funds is “a fundamental principle of the UN Convention against Corruption.”

“The international community must therefore step up international cooperation and promote practical measures to recover and return stolen assets and eliminate safe havens that facilitate illicit financial flows from developing to developed countries,” he added.

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Shettima also sought Finland’s support in Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

In a meeting with Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, Shettima said: “Nigeria has had 25 years of uninterrupted democracy. And Bola Tinubu is a president with enormous democratic credentials and commitment. With him in the saddle, Africa and the world at large will be safer, more positive, more accepting and more peaceful.”