By Mariam Sanni
Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshall Hasan Abubakar said the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, will exceed 30,000 personnel by 2027, marking a significant leap in its manpower demands.
Abubakar disclosed this in Abuja at the opening of NAF Administration Personnel Seminar, with the theme, ‘Optimising Contemporary Human Resources to Enhance On-going Transformation Initiatives of the NAF.’
He said NAF had experienced remarkable growth over the past 13 years, with an 86 percent increase in its overall population.
According to him, the number of airmen and airwomen have doubled since 2013, driven by higher intake rates to meet operational demands.
“The most significant growth surge occurred between 2017 and 2020 and currently, the officer-to-airmen ratio stands at approximately 1:6.
“Under my watch, more than 530 officers were commissioned and about 2,300 airmen were recruited.
”If we maintain this growth rate, NAF is projected to exceed 30,000 personnel by 2027,” the CAS said.
He added that the rapid increase in staff numbers underscore the need for modern and computerised human resource management, and proactive administration.
He also said it underscores better career management, personnel record keeping, performance evaluation, accommodation, healthcare and more welfare incentives.
These factors, according to him, will remain critical in maintaining operational readiness, job satisfaction and high morale.
He added that some policy efforts aimed at improving personnel management and administration include the purchase of an office complex in Gudu, which would house the Air Secretary Branch and a few other branches.
On welfare, Abubakar noted that NAF had made significant strides, including better-equipped medical facilities, improved accommodation, enhanced insurance policies and affordable housing schemes.
“It is noteworthy that a total of 2,972 personnel benefited from newly constructed or renovated accommodation facilities in the past one and a half years.
“These measures are intended to enhance administrative efficiency and bring services closer to personnel,” Abubakar added.
The air chief noted that the theme of the seminar aligns with his philosophy and addressed the need to align human resource practices with the dynamic requirements of operational environments.
He emphasised that the human element remains the cornerstone of any organisation, adding that a well-managed workforce is essential in ensuring that the right skills are strategically deployed at the right time and place to achieve the objectives effectively.
Earlier, the Chief of Administration, NAF, AVM Idi Sani said the seminar was a product of deliberate efforts.
Sani said the seminar was designed to configure the right manpower balance for the air force’s new posture, taking into consideration, the modification of its staffing requirements to conform to the harmonised Armed Forces of Nigeria structure.
According to him, the modified NAF structure is expected to involve skills-based solutions that will ensure the effective utilisation of resources to achieve the desired outcome.
