Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today criticized the Secretariat for the recurring delays and cost overruns enveloping the complex billion-dollar enterprise resource planning project — known as Umoja — as the Organization faces increasing fiscal constraints that are jeopardizing its delivery of mandates.
Member States expressed their concerns today that the ongoing construction project at the United Nations premises in Geneva might require more assessed contributions from them, as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) discussed ways to mitigate a possible cost overrun for the more than $800 million undertaking in the Swiss city.
With less than 16 working days until the scheduled 13 December close of the main part of its seventy-fourth session, the Chairman of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budget) today warned Member States that the skyrocketing number of budget questions directed towards Secretariat officials is dangerously delaying the Committee’s work.
Delegates today expressed their strong support for the Joint Inspection Unit’s proposals to make the United Nations premises more accessible for persons with disabilities, as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) examined progress and challenges related to conference management services.
While pleased with the Board of Auditor’s precise review of the overall healthy financial statements of 18 United nations entities, several delegates today in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) were troubled by what they viewed as some of these same entities’ lax attitude in carrying out the auditing watchdog’s recommendations.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today recommended to the General Assembly the appointment of the top audit official of China to the three‑member United Nations Board of Auditors, which examines the accounts of United Nations entities, while also forwarding to the Assembly approved nominations of members of some subsidiary bodies.
Member States in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today supported the Secretariat’s ongoing efforts to complete a $40.2 million construction project by 2023 that will make the headquarters of the Organization’s regional commission in Bangkok a safer and more efficient working space for more than 600 employees.
The existence of two different pay scales in Geneva undermines the United Nations common system aimed at maintaining the same employment conditions across different duty stations, speakers warned today as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) began examining the role of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) in setting such standards.
Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today voiced their concerns over the worsening cash flow problems enveloping the Organization’s regular budget and stressed the need to give the world body a sounder financial foundation. Some Member States criticized other States for not paying their assessments on time and in full without conditions, which has forced the Secretariat to take emergency measures to pay staff and keep the New York City Headquarters operating.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today began reviewing the proposed programme budget for special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives during 2020, with delegates seeking clarification and justification for some resource requirements.
