As Nigerians prepares to go to the polls, the Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has charged personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, to remain apolitical throughout the elections.
The CAS stated this during his meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, AOCs, Commandants and units Commanders held at Headquarters NAF, Abuja.
Air Marshal Amao, urged the Commanders to sensitize NAF personnel on the Code of Conduct for Armed Forces of Nigeria during elections, while also reminding them to be apolitical, particularly now that the elections are close.
He added that the NAF will commence what he described as a realistic pre-induction training in all its units for personnel that would be deployed for election support duties.
He charged NAF Commanders to synergy with other security agencies within their Areas of Responsibilities towards organizing joint inter-agency training in order to enhance the capacity of law-enforcement agencies in discharging their respective roles during the elections.
“NAF personnel are expected to work in synergy with other security agencies within their respective Areas of Responsibilities to ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections”, he said
The CAS highlighted that part of NAF’s responsibilities to provide aid to civil authority, include assisting the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the airlift of election materials to various parts of the country.
Air Marshal Amao also charged field commanders in various theatres of operation across the country to sustain the tempo of operations and onslaught against terrorists. According to him, going by recent happenings in the country, it has become imperative for personnel to avoid any actions or utterances that could tarnish the image of the Service.