Air chief urges officers to embrace financial accountability

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has called on personnel of the service to internalise the principles of accountability in all financial dealings.

Abubakar stressed that managing resources with integrity and prudence enhances the Air Force’s capability to maintain a high state of readiness,  train and equip personnel effectively.

He spoke on Thursday at the opening of the NAF Finance Seminar 2024, organised by the Accounts and Budget Branch in Abuja.

Abubakar said, “When resources are managed with integrity and prudence, it enhances our ability to maintain a high state of readiness, train, equip, and deploy our personnel effectively, as well as to ensure that every operational directive is executed without financial constraints.

“It is, therefore, incumbent upon every officer, from the highest levels of command to the most junior, to internalise the principles of accountability in all financial dealings. This is not merely a requirement of our roles; it is a commitment to the future of the Nigerian Air Force and the security of our nation.”

Abubakar also stated that, as the service moves forward in challenging times, there is a need to use its resources efficiently.

“As we forge ahead in these challenging times, the efficient management of our resources becomes not just an operational necessity but a moral imperative.

“The Accounts and Budget Branch is the backbone of our operational effectiveness,” he stated.

The Chief of Accounts and Budget, AVM Uchechi Nwagwu, said the seminar was aimed at developing the professional capacity of NAF finance personnel in the management of public funds.

Nwagwu said the theme was borne out of the desire to ensure clear visibility in financial transactions, promote ethical behaviour, and encourage efficiency in the utilisation of scarce resources.

He said it was envisaged that the seminar and its subsequent resolutions would assist finance personnel in learning and improving their accountability practices to manage NAF resources more prudently.

He urged the participants, especially the finance personnel, to foster a culture of accountability within the NAF finance specialty in support of NAF operations.