President of UNGA 74th Session

Nigeria's Ambassador to the United Nations Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has been elected by acclamation as President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

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• The 193-member General Assembly elected Muhammad-Bande, 61, who had been nominated by Nigeria and endorsed by the African group.
• In accordance with the rules, the President of the 74th session of the General Assembly had to be elected from among the African States.
• Muhammad-Bande was elected by acclamation and he will succeed Maria Fernanda Espinosa as the President of the next General Assembly session that will commence in September.
• Espinosa was only the fourth woman to be elected President of the General Assembly in the world organization's 73 year-old history and the first woman ever from Latin America and the Caribbean region.
• After being elected Muhammad-Bande said the implementation of existing mandates and the 2030 Agenda with particular focus on peace and security, poverty eradication, zero hunger, quality education, climate action and inclusion will constitute the major properties of his presidency.
• India had supported Muhammad-Bande's candidature describing him a great friend and a well-known son of Africa during an informal interactive dialogue.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA/GA/AG)

• It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), the only one in which all member nations have equal representation, and the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN.
• Its powers are to oversee the budget of the UN, appoint the non-permanent members to the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General of the United Nations, receive reports from other parts of the UN, and make recommendations in the form of General Assembly Resolutions. It has also established numerous subsidiary organs.
• The General Assembly currently meets under its president or secretary-general in annual sessions at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City, the main part of which lasts from September to December and part of January until all issues are addressed (which often is just before the next session's start). It can also reconvene for special and emergency special sessions.
• Its composition, functions, powers, voting, and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.
• Voting in the General Assembly on certain important questions, namely, recommendations on peace and security, budgetary concerns, and the election, admission, suspension or expulsion of members is by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. Other questions are decided by a straightforward majority. Each member country has one vote.
• Apart from approval of budgetary matters, including adoption of a scale of assessment, Assembly resolutions are not binding on the members.
• The Assembly may make recommendations on any matters within the scope of the UN, except matters of peace and security under Security Council consideration.