NAF establishes Ombudsman office to receive citizens, personnel’s complaints

The Nigerian Air Force has established an Ombudsman office to entertain complaints from citizens against its personnel.

The office, according to NAF, would be independent and would provide an objective and compassionate channel for seeking redress.

NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Friday said the Chief Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, established the office to allow Nigerians as well as NAF serving personnel to ventilate their grievances against the service for immediate resolution.

The statement was titled, ‘NAF establishes office of ombudsman.’

It read, “To enable those outside the Nigerian Air Force have 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.

“In approving the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Chief of the Air Staff, 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 relationship and substantially reduce chances of disaffection, improve trust and confidence with the civil populace.

“Such mechanism is also aimed at increasing motivation and promoting personnel loyalty among NAF serving personnel.

“It should also be added that since the establishment of the NAF, its personnel have relied mostly on the provisions of the Executive Regulations in channelling 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, 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. The new Office of the Ombudsman, thus, provides an avenue to address these issues.”