The Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim, has cautioned the United Nations against proposing a global tax to fund the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He described the move as inappropriate and unacceptable, saying the international system is anarchic and lacks the authority to compel compliance from member states.
He further asserted that there is no comprehensive international system in place to ensure the workability of such a policy.
Ibrahim made this statement during the opening session of the inter-parliamentary meeting of the United Nations Global Parliament in New York, on Thursday.
According to Senator Ibrahim, global taxes will further exacerbate inequality within the geocentric system and could also increase poverty, undermining the United Nations’ efforts to eradicate poverty by 2030.
As an alternative, Ibrahim suggested that environmental polluters compensate Africa to alleviate the debt burden.
“It is time for African legislators to act decisively and compel the rest of the world to pay compensation for climate impacts so that we can finance our SDGs,” he declared.
Ibrahim identified that, among other issues, the SDGs struggle to achieve the goal of poverty eradication because many who are invested in meaningful outcomes are being excluded.
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“Furthermore, there is a lack of transparency, a deficit of trust, a significant failure of multilateralism, and insufficient support from non-state actors for the SDGs,” he said.
Ibrahim informed the United Nations that the year 2030 is approaching rapidly, emphasising a major shortfall in achieving the primary goal of poverty eradication. He advises that a review is becoming increasingly necessary.
Senator Ibrahim openly praised President Tinubu for upholding his commitment to the SDGs in his budget proposal at the United Nations Inter-parliamentary.
He urged the United Nations to reflect inward, as time is critical for the success of the SDGs.