Nigeria has defaulted on its assessed financial obligations to the United Nations, remitting just 36 per cent of its expected contributions between 2020 and 2024, an exclusive investigation by ireport247news.com has revealed. This troubling shortfall, amounting to an unpaid balance of over $19.57 million, raises fresh concerns about Nigeria’s international credibility and fiscal prioritisation amidst growing domestic and global economic pressure.
According to official data from the UN financial records, Nigeria was assessed to contribute a total of $30.53 million to the organisation’s regular budget over the five-year period. However, records show that only $10.96 million was remitted, with full payments made only in 2022 and 2024. In contrast, no payments were recorded in 2020, 2021, and 2023 — years in which Nigeria was notably absent from the UN’s annual Honour Roll of fully compliant nations.
As of May 22, 2025, Nigeria had made no payment towards its $5.1 million assessment for the 2025 financial year. Meanwhile, 108 countries had already fulfilled their obligations in full. This development comes against the backdrop of a severe liquidity crisis at the United Nations, which Secretary-General António Guterres has warned threatens the organisation’s ability to effectively carry out its global missions.
Addressing member states in New York, Guterres painted a bleak picture of the UN’s financial health, revealing that only $1.8 billion had been received out of a $3.5 billion budget, leaving an almost 50 per cent shortfall. By April 30, unpaid assessments had reached $2.4 billion, with the United States, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela among the top debtors. For peacekeeping and international tribunal operations, the figures are even more alarming, with $2.7 billion and $79 million respectively still unpaid.
“This liquidity crisis is caused by one simple fact – the arrears,” Guterres stressed, adding that while the UN is exploring reforms and cost-cutting measures, the primary solution lies in timely financial commitments by member states.
Nigeria’s financial default comes at a time when its economy is grappling with mounting debt servicing costs, currency depreciation, and inflationary pressures. These domestic fiscal constraints may partly explain the government’s inability to meet its UN obligations. However, analysts argue that such defaults could weaken Nigeria’s influence in international diplomatic circles, especially at a time when global governance structures are under reform and geopolitical alliances are shifting.
In response to these challenges, the UN has revised Nigeria’s scale of assessment downward over the years. From a 0.25 per cent contribution quota in 2020 and 2021, the figure dropped to 0.18 per cent between 2022 and 2024, and was further reduced to 0.15 per cent in 2025 — reflecting a diminished economic standing.
Despite the lowered quota, Nigeria has struggled to meet even the revised figures, raising further questions about the government’s commitment to multilateralism and global partnerships.
To mitigate the crisis, Guterres has proposed far-reaching reforms, including a 20 per cent staff cut in the UN’s political and peacekeeping departments, and relocation of certain operations from high-cost cities like New York and Geneva to more affordable locations. He emphasised that while these reforms may entail initial relocation or severance costs, they are aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability.
However, he warned that restructuring alone would not resolve the core issue. “Structural reform is not the answer to a fundamental failure by some member states to pay what they owe,” he stated, urging closer consultations with governments and greater accountability for UN funding responsibilities.
Nigeria’s recent track record underscores a concerning pattern. In 2020, 144 UN member states paid their dues in full. The number rose to 153 in 2021 and stood at 142 in 2023 — yet Nigeria failed to meet its obligations in all three years. The country only reappeared on the Honour Roll in 2022 and 2024, following full payments of $5.23 million and $5.73 million respectively.
Diplomatic experts warn that continued defaults could undermine Nigeria’s influence in critical UN negotiations and leadership roles. “If Nigeria wishes to maintain a strong voice on global issues like peacekeeping, development, and human rights, it must be seen as a reliable financial partner,” said one international affairs analyst who requested anonymity.
With the 2025 Honour Roll already filling up and Nigeria yet to make any payments, the country’s reputation within the UN system remains on shaky ground. The ongoing liquidity crisis at the UN only magnifies the importance of timely contributions, especially from influential regional players like Nigeria.
As Guterres continues his push for structural reforms and cost efficiency, member states like Nigeria face a decisive choice: commit to their global responsibilities or risk being sidelined in the shaping of international policy and diplomacy.