Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has advocated for the inclusion of Africa, especially Nigeria, as a permanent member of the United Nation Security Council, emphasising the need to redefine multilateralism to accommodate the pressing concerns of developing countries.
Kalu made the call while representing Nigeria at the Heads of Parliaments meeting at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States of America, USA, preparatory for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, Switzerland, in July under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
He stressed that the current multilateral approach is driven by the Global North, leaving the Global South to face significant developmental challenges.
According to reports, multilateralism refers to the practice of multiple countries working together to address common challenges, promote shared interests, and establish common standards.
This approach involves cooperation among three or more countries, often through established institutions such as the United Nations, to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
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Essentially, multilateralism, as opposed to bilateralism, provides a framework for countries to collaborate on global issues, such as climate change, economic development, and human rights.
Speaking on the ‘challenges faced by countries in the world and how parliaments can help ameliorate them through multilateralism,’ Kalu at the meeting that involved global parliaments advocated for increased representation of developing countries in decision-making rooms and tailoring conversations to address their unique challenges.
Using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an example, the Deputy Speaker noted that while the goals aim to address global issues, they may not align with the priorities of developing countries, which are still striving to achieve industrialisation and economic growth.
While advancing Nigeria’s position on the issue, Kalu emphasised the need to expand the voices in the room to accommodate more of the Global South, ensuring that multilateral aspirations are truly global.
He said, “We need to define what we want to achieve with multilateralism. The current dynamic of multilateralism is driven by the Global North, while the Global South is facing pressing developmental issues.
“My people in Nigeria have a saying that you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. If you want developing countries to embrace multilateralism, give them more seats in rooms where developmental conversations are held and tailor the conversation to embrace and address their challenges.
“Using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an example. We have 5 years to go to attain the SDGs.
“I agree that the SDG goals were designed to address global issues, but a critical appraisal will indicate that some of the issues the SDGs seek to address are not yet what developing countries wish to prioritise, as they are yet to scale the hurdle of industrialisation and economic growth. Therefore, expecting them to embrace aspirational SDG targets may be a challenge.
“Let us define what we choose to achieve by multilateralism and expand the voices in the room to accommodate more of the global South so that the aspirations will be truly global.”
Elucidating his points shortly after the meeting, Kalu added that the concept of multilateralism would remain theoretical if the principles of inclusivity and cooperation are excluded.
“I was addressing the presiding officers from all over the world who gathered to have this preparatory meeting for the World Conference of Speakers coming up in July. This is our 3rd meeting.
“I reminded them that the concept of multilateralism that all of us are talking about would remain a theoretical concept if it’s not shaped in line with the principles that should guide it: principles of inclusivity and cooperation.
“The goal should be peace and prosperity in the world; for us to be able to achieve that, you need to ensure that at all times, those principles that guide the concept of multilateralism should be upheld to the highest level.
“When you do a critical analysis of how we’ve operated multilateralism, you find out that the practice of equality is not there.
“The Global South, which Africa falls under, is not treated as equal when it comes to the table of making global policies that will benefit the world.
“If you break it down further, you find out that inclusivity is key to multilateralism. Africa at the moment is not part of the permanent seat in the Security Council of the United Nations.
“If we must preach multilateralism, I think it’s about time we talked about the amendment of Article 108 of the UN Charter to give more space for Africa to be involved.
“I believe that the goals that multilateralism is supposed to chase, certain areas around the globe should be designed differently.
“Africa, with the burden of debts that has lingered for a number of years is not expected to perform on the achievements of the SDG goals just like any other continent around the world.
“These were some of the things I shared with the body of speakers around the world at this New York conference of the United Nations,” Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker said.
Kalu also expressed his gratitude to the President of IPU, Rt. Hon. Tulia Ackson, the Secretary-General, Martin Chungong, and the heads of global national parliaments for the meeting
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