Nigerian Air Force may be grounded – CAS
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko-Umar, warned that the Nigerian Air Force might be grounded if urgent measures were not taken to improve its current poor financial condition.
Dikko-Umar raised the alarm in Abuja when he met with the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force.
He told the committee that the Air Force could not buy new aircraft and refurbish existing equipment, owing to poor funding.
The committee, which is headed by Mr. Kenneth Archibong, met with the CAS to look into the budget performance of the Air Force ahead of the 2012 budget.
But it was lamentation at the session, as Dikko-Umar sought help to rescue the Air Force.
He said the practice of handing envelops to parastatals without considering their peculiar financial needs was affecting the execution of plans in technical agencies like the Air Force.
Dikkor-Umar said, "The challenge of funds is the main challenge before the Nigerian Air Force. As you are aware, the Air Force is highly technical.
"It’s near impossible for the Air Force to purchase equipment with the current budget, particularly when ministries are given envelops. The Nigeria Air Force cannot buy planes as you will see when we deliver our 2012 budget."
Some members of the committee, however, observed that the submissions of the CAS were skeletal and lacked the details the committee expected from him.
A member, Mrs. Rafiquat Onabamiro-Arinola, said, "The Chief of the Air Staff has not really told this committee anything at all.
"I expected more from him, like issues of challenges in his various formations, including that of personnel and his roadmap for the Air Force.
"We need information before we can act. We need to understand where you are and where you stand before we can help. I expected a proper paper presentation on staff deficiencies and other aspects."
But, Dikko-Umar insisted that funding was the main issue and appealed to the committee not to consider funds expended on the Air Force over the years a waste.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko-Umar, warned that the Nigerian Air Force might be grounded if urgent measures were not taken to improve its current poor financial condition.
Dikko-Umar raised the alarm in Abuja when he met with the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force.
He told the committee that the Air Force could not buy new aircraft and refurbish existing equipment, owing to poor funding.
The committee, which is headed by Mr. Kenneth Archibong, met with the CAS to look into the budget performance of the Air Force ahead of the 2012 budget.
But it was lamentation at the session, as Dikko-Umar sought help to rescue the Air Force.
He said the practice of handing envelops to parastatals without considering their peculiar financial needs was affecting the execution of plans in technical agencies like the Air Force.
Dikkor-Umar said, "The challenge of funds is the main challenge before the Nigerian Air Force. As you are aware, the Air Force is highly technical.
"It’s near impossible for the Air Force to purchase equipment with the current budget, particularly when ministries are given envelops. The Nigeria Air Force cannot buy planes as you will see when we deliver our 2012 budget."
Some members of the committee, however, observed that the submissions of the CAS were skeletal and lacked the details the committee expected from him.
A member, Mrs. Rafiquat Onabamiro-Arinola, said, "The Chief of the Air Staff has not really told this committee anything at all.
"I expected more from him, like issues of challenges in his various formations, including that of personnel and his roadmap for the Air Force.
"We need information before we can act. We need to understand where you are and where you stand before we can help. I expected a proper paper presentation on staff deficiencies and other aspects."
But, Dikko-Umar insisted that funding was the main issue and appealed to the committee not to consider funds expended on the Air Force over the years a waste.
No comments:
Post a Comment