Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA- History was made on Tuesday, as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) commissioned four(4) dedicated, hard working and astute Air Warrant Officers to the rank of Flight Lieutenants .
The Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) granted concessional Commission to the rank of Flight Lieutenant include; Air Warrant Officers Julde Muhammed, Mohammed Madugu, Theophilus Enem and Master Warrant Officer Samuel Ogunnubi.
Speaking in Abuja at the Decoration ceremony of the newly promoted officers of Air rank and commissioning of Air Warrant Officers, the Chief of the Air State, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, noted that the commissioning will serve as a reward for hard work, as well as motivation to the airmen/airwomen to aspire for such elevation.
He noted also, that the Air Warrant Officers who were given Concessional Commission have rendered outstanding services to the NAF and the nation for nothing less than 33yrs, and have been found to possess exemplary leadership qualities.
“I am therefore delighted to see a cross-section of the gathering of members and friends of the Air Force family for an event that trigger happiness and self fulfillment” the CAS remarked. “It is the crowning glory of almost 3 decades and over that for some, of dedication, diligence and loyalty to the cause of our Fatherland. It therefore behooves on all of you promoted to strive to live up to expectation”.
Air Marshal Abubakar, stated that in an increasingly complex security environment where new challenges call for the very best, promotion can no longer be business as usual,adding that factors such as merit, productivity, establishment vacancy, deplorability and, to some extent, geographical spread have combined to raise the bar and make the race even more competitive.
“In all circumstances, therefore, our leaders in the Air Force must be able to dominate the events which surround them, to paraphrase Viscount Montgomery. I am proud to say that we have found in the 14 Air Vice Marshals, 36 Air Commodores and 4 Flight Lieutenants we have decorated this morning such men.
“As you must have realized by now, these Officers have earned these ranks by dint of hard work amongst several other criteria considered. As part of our desire to reward excellence, we have chosen to have them decorated in front of their friends, peers and families.
“We believe that their families, particularly their spouses have been greatly involved in their accomplishments” he enthused.
While noting that promotion though a reward for hard work, is however considered a privilege and a call for higher responsibilities, he charged all the officers decorated to brace up for the challenges ahead, especially in their collective resolve to regenerate the Nigerian Air Force.
He also urged them to be prepared to apply their skills, experience, commitment and time when and wherever it is demanded, and encouraged everyone of them to strive to contribute their quota by all means possible.
In his opening remarks, the Chief of Administration, Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, while noting that several qualities and conditions are used to determine an officer’s eligibility for promotion, said that merit is certainly top of the list of considerations, adding that those who have scaled these many hurdles and found themselves in the list of those approved to wear the one and 2 star air rank, surely have reasons to celebrate.
He urged the promoted officers not to betray the confidence reposed in them, and enjoined them to be more diligent, articulate and compassionate in their disposition to their duties and other persons, both professional colleagues and civilians.
Speaking to Journalists, one of the Officers granted Concessional Commission, Flight Lieutenant Theophilus Enem who was also the best in his Ph.D class, said the promotion is a yardstick for the men to begin to work hard as hardwork pays.
He explained that being focused helped him to combine his education and work. “Being focused, from the onset, I knew what I want. Air Force has the platform to train you and for you to be what you want. I was a technician on Aircraft before I had the passion to study Computer Science in 1989”, he said.
Flight Lieutenant Enem, who holds a Ph.D in Computer Science-Networking and Telecommunications, said the Concessional Commission is the first in the NAF, and urged the men to work hard.
Recall that the Air Force Council (AFC) on December 4, 2018, approved the promotion of a total of 64 senior officers to the next higher ranks in the Nigerian Air Force. The affected senior officers comprise 14 Air Commodores who were promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, 36 Group Captains promoted to Air Commodore and 14 Wing Commanders promoted to the rank of Group Captain.
In line with the provisions in Chapter 8 of the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) Officers 2017 (Revised), the AFC also approved the concessional commission of 3 Air Warrant Officers (AWO) and one Master Warrant Officer (MWO) to the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
