To enable those outside the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) the opportunity to channel their complaints and grievances against the Service or its personnel, the Chief of the Air Staff has given the go-ahead for the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Office, which is also tasked with addressing complaints by NAF personnel, will serve as an independent instrument that will provide an objective and compassionate channel for seeking redress, the NAF Spokesperson Air Commodore, Edward Gabkwet said in a statement.
He further noted that in approving the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, took cognizance of the need to provide an avenue for those outside the Service as well as NAF serving personnel to ventilate their grievances against the Service for immediate resolution.
“This is because the CAS strongly believes that putting in place appropriate mechanisms for redress would ensure harmonious relationships and substantially reduce chances of disaffection, improve trust and confidence with the civil populace.
“Such a mechanism is also aimed at increasing motivation and promoting personnel loyalty among NAF serving personnel”, he said.
He further added that since the establishment of the NAF, its personnel have relied mostly on the provisions of the Executive Regulations in channeling their complaints for redress, while in some cases, complaints were referred first to immediate superiors even when such complaints are against such superior officers.
Also, he pointed out that many persons outside the Service have over time found it difficult to channel their complaints and grievances to the Service due to absence of a distinct channel, but the new Office of the Ombudsman, thus, provides an avenue to address these issues.
Recall that in July 2021, Air Marshal Amao approved the establishment of the Directorate of Veteran Affairs in a bid to stimulate better welfare packages for NAF veterans and their families.
