…CHARGES THEM ON DISCIPLINE, INNOVATIVENESS
As part of efforts to further enhance professionalism and efficient service delivery through sustained discipline and regimentation, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has held its Third Quarter Interactive Meeting of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) with Air Warrant Officers (AWOs) and Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) of all NAF Units and tri-Service Formations and Institutions.
A statement by Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola noted that the quarterly retreat, which took place at NAF headquarters in Abuja provided a forum for interactions aimed at consolidating on the existing smooth working relations between the NAF leadership and all ranks within the Service for enhanced operational effectiveness and efficiency.
In his remarks during the meeting, the CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, reminded the AWOs and RSMs, who are the link between the Officers’ Cadre and the Other Ranks, to remain loyal and impartial in the discharge of their responsibilities. He enjoined them to always give necessary feedback to their Commanders with a view to enhancing policy implementation as well as consolidating on the advancement of the Service. He also laid emphasis on the expected roles of the AWOs and RSMs in promoting regimentation and discipline, urging them to continue to give their best to ensure that the NAF remains the pride of all Nigerians.
The CAS also encouraged the AWOs and RSMs to be innovative in the area of Research and Development (R&D), noting that the NAF had intensified efforts to produce locally-made spares and other related equipment in a bid to address the challenges associated with spares procurement from other countries. While speaking on personnel welfare, Air Marshal Abubakar added that the NAF would not relent in ensuring that its personnel were properly accommodated and provided with the requisite equipment to do their jobs effectively. He reiterated that the Interactive Session was part of the NAF Leadership’s deliberate bottom-up approach towards facilitating continuous feedback from personnel of the Service, to ensure that the Leadership consistently takes the best decisions.
During the interactive session, the AWOs and RSMs took turns to brief the CAS on activities in their various Areas of Responsibility. The briefs mostly focused on suggestions to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency as well as matters pertaining to general welfare. The AWOs and RSMs also commended the CAS for creating the enabling environment for women to thrive in the Service as evidenced by the recent winging of the first female fighter pilot and helicopter pilot in the NAF, promotion of the first woman to the enviable rank of AWO as well as the reversion of the Air Force Girls’ Comprehensive School (AFGCS) in Jos back to Air Force Girls’ Military School (AFGMS). A lecture on “NAF Policy on Civil Military Relations” had earlier been delivered by the Director of Civil Military Relations, Air Commodore David Aluku.
