The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has made a decisive commitment to personnel welfare. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has rolled out a series of transformative initiatives designed to boost morale, enhance well-being, and improve operational efficiency across its units.
In a press statement signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information, these include a 100 per cent increase in Ration Cash Allowance (RCA) as part of the 2025 budget, and substantial insurance payouts.
The insurance payouts, according to Air Commodore Ejodame are under a newly introduced Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy and large-scale distribution of new uniforms and accoutrements as well as an upward review of the monthly electricity subsidy for Sam Ethnan Air Force Base.
The initiatives were unveiled by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, during the commissioning of a newly remodelled 160-ensuite airmen’s accommodation at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Lagos, on 31 May 2025.
The event served to underscore the Air Force’s resolve to invest in the welfare of its personnel while building a motivated, professional, and combat-ready force.
Speaking at the ceremony, the CAS reaffirmed that personnel welfare remains a key driver of his command philosophy.
He disclosed that 23 beneficiaries, 9 of them recently, have received substantial payouts under the Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy, which covers compensation for bodily injury, permanent or temporary disability, death, medical expenses, and salary reimbursement during hospitalisation.
He also highlighted the ongoing distribution of new uniforms and accoutrements, which he said “will achieve 100 percent coverage within the next 2 weeks”.
Air Marshal Abubakar also announced that the NAF is actively engaging with the Defence Headquarters to review the Armed Forces Manual of Financial Administration with a view to enhancing the overall welfare package.
“In the meantime, a 100 percent increment in the Ration Cash Allowance for 2025 has already been established as a proactive measure to support personnel amid rising living costs”, he noted.
Beyond financial and material welfare, the CAS revealed that the NAF has increased infrastructural projects to over 470 nationwide, covering residential buildings, operational facilities, sporting complexes, medical centres, and places of worship.
Of these, 295 projects, representing 63 percent, have been completed, while 175 are ongoing. “To date, over ₦61 billion has been invested in these efforts, which also include upgrades to roads, water supply systems, and electricity infrastructure at various NAF bases,” he said.
The CAS emphasised that “the newly commissioned 160 ensuite flats will significantly improve living conditions, strengthen unit cohesion, and enhance operational effectiveness”.
He further announced an upward review of the monthly electricity subsidy for the base, along with the procurement of new medical equipment for 661 NAF Hospital, Ikeja, to boost the quality of healthcare delivery.
“These initiatives reflect our unwavering commitment to ensuring that our personnel are well catered for in all aspects of service life, your service and sacrifice remain the cornerstone upon which we continue to build a stronger and more capable Air Force”, he added.
Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Adeniran Ademuwagun, expressed gratitude to the Chief of the Air Staff for his unwavering commitment to personnel welfare.
He noted that the CAS’s command philosophy embodies leadership empathy as a cornerstone, as he understands and relentlessly addresses the challenges of accommodation faced by personnel.
He added that the newly commissioned accommodation and other welfare interventions would not only boost morale but also enhance operational efficiency.
The AOC assured the CAS of the continued dedication and loyalty of personnel under his command in advancing the mission and vision of the Nigerian Air Force.
