UNITED NATIONS, New York (PANA) - Nigeria has paid its contribution to the 1997 United Nations regular budget in full, becoming the 57th member state to do so.

Nigeria's permanent representative to the UN, Ibrahim Gambari, on Tuesday delivered a cheque for 1,171, 586 dollars to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management, James Connor, in New York.

He said that the amount represented Nigeria's full contribution without condition and in time .

Gambari reaffirmed the country's commitment to the UN and expressed the hope that other members would make the organisation's job easier by meeting their charter obligation.

Connors expressed appreciation for the sizeable amount contributed by Nigeria, saying the payment reflected the country's support for the organisation.

Six other African countries -- South Africa, Namibia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Tunisia -- have so far paid their contributions in full.

The countries joined others, who have also paid fully, on the UN honour roll created by the office of the spokesman to the Secretary-General.

The 185-member organisation is currently owed about two billion dollars in contributions to the regular and peacekeeping budgets.

The huge debt has put the world body in a difficult financial situation.

The U.S. is the biggest UN debtor, owing about one billion dollars in past and current contributions.