Molly Kilete, Abuja
Newly promoted Air Vice Marshalls and Air Commodores in the Nigerian Air Force(NAF), have been urged to see their promotion as the beginning of a new phase in their career and greater responsibilities ahead in the service.
The senior officers have also been urged to be selfless and to work harder for the greater good of the Service and the nation in general.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar gave the charge while decorating the officers with their new ranks in Abuja.
The NAF boss, while congratulating the officers said he was particularly elated with the promotion because the Nigerian Air Force now has more strategic and analytical minds in its pool of manpower resource to bring to bear their knowledge and experience on how to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.
He said “Promotion no doubt is a management tool that is used to enhance productivity by recognizing hardwork, commitment and diligence in every organisation including the military. It equally motivates and inspires others to work harder. In the military, promotion is usually a painstaking procedure that involves the selection of the best out of the best for elevation. 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. I therefore enjoin you to see your promotion as the beginning of another phase of your career in the service and greater responsibilities. Thus, I am particularly elated because this ceremony is indicative that the Nigerian Air Force now has more strategic and analytical minds in our pool of manpower resource to bring to bear their knowledge and experience on how to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.
To those who were not lucky to have benefited from the promotion, Abubakar said “I enjoined you not to relent in your service to our father land. Promotion is said to come from God. Albeit hard work, excellence, and professionalism are factors that determine which direction the pendulum swings to. Your hard work and services are appreciated, and in due time, your effort would be rewarded accordingly. Therefore, I urge you to continue to forge ahead in your selfless service for the greater good of the Service and the nation as a whole.
“As I congratulate the newly promoted senior officers on your well-deserved promotion, I charge you to put all hands on deck in our quest towards building the Nigerian Air Force of our dreams. We cannot come short of the expectations of the good people of Nigeria. I thus, encourage you all to be guided by the words of a former United States Defence Secretary, Gen James Mattis who said “I don’t lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word”.
A total of 16 Air Vice Marshall and 31 Air Commodores were with their new ranks.