Nigerian Air Force decorates 47 senior officers with new ranks
- Some senior officers in the Nigerian Air Force have moved to the next level of their careers
- The officers were tasked to take their promotion as a challenge to serve Nigeria more diligently
- The officers were decorated by the minister of defence and other dignitaries at the event
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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday, December 11 decorated 47 senior officers with the ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodores.
The newly-promoted officers were decorated by the guest of honour and minister of defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (rtd) in an event witnessed by a Legit.ng reporter.
Speaking at the ceremony held in Abuja, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, noted that in the military, promotion is usually a painstaking procedure that involves the selection of the best out of the best for elevation.
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His words:
“You have all therefore been found worthy of this advancement. As such, bear in mind that you don’t get promoted only for doing your job really well but also for demonstrating potentials to do more especially at higher levels.”
On his part, the minister urged the promoted officers reminded the officers that their mandate is to preserve national security and territorial integrity.
He urged them to bear all the knowledge, wisdom, ingenuity, and critical thinking capacity that they have garnered over the years to foster a greater Nigeria through the Nigerian Air Force.
Earlier, in an opening address, the NAF chief of administration, Air Vice Marshal AG Pani said the promotion followed a painstaking screening process and subsequent approval by the air council before the beneficiaries were selected.
His words:
“The selection process culminating in promotion is usually a painstaking and exhaustive one. It involves the application of stringent criteria for elevation, especially to the prestigious air rank.
“Several qualities and conditions are used to determine an officer’s eligibility for promotion. Merit is certainly top of the list of considerations.
“However, it does not mean that the officers that were not promoted are not fit, most especially at the higher ranks. The major constraint is that of establishment vacancies. We can only promote what the establishment and manning provision can conveniently accommodate.
“Therefore, those who have scaled these many hurdles and found themselves in the list of those approved to wear the one and 2 stars general rank surely have reasons to celebrate.”
Legit.ng had earlier reported that the Air Force Council on Thursday, November 26, approved the promotion of a total of 107 senior officers to the next higher ranks in the NAF.
According to the report, 16 Air Commodores were promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, 31 Group Captains were promoted to the rank of Air Commodore and 27 Wing Commanders were promoted to the rank of Group Captains.
In addition, 33 Squadron Leaders were promoted to the rank of Wing Commanders.
Meanwhile, NAF's quest to deal with Boko Haram, armed banditry, and other criminal activities received a major boost on Wednesday, December 2, as the Service took delivery of a second Mi-171E Helicopter acquired from Serbia by the federal government.
This was made known by NAF, through a statement made available to Legit.ng by its spokesperson, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who was one of those decorated today and is now an Air Vice Marshal.
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Source: Legit.ng
