Aircraftman (ACM) Bashir Umar of the Nigerian Air Force who reportedly found and returned lost €37,000 which is about N15million naira has been promoted to a new rank of a Corporal, which is a double promotion for him.
The Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar on Thursday July 25th 2019 in Abuja decorated Aircraftman (ACM) Bashir Umar with his new rank, being a reward for his integrity.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola had a few days ago, released a statement announcing what Bashir Umar did. This was the statement released by NAF talking about rewarding the Aircraftman for his sincerity.
The NAF spokesperson said that the incident occurred at the Hajj Camp Market in Kano on Tuesday 16 July 2019, when ACM Bashir Umar, who is a member of the NAF Mobile Air Defence Team (MADT) deployed for airport security duties, while on routine patrol with some of his colleagues, found the money in a parcel. Fortunately, there was a phone number on the parcel which the Airman, Bashir Umar called, and eventually handed over the package to the owner. Air Commodore Daramola stating further, said:
“Consequently, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed the Chief of Administration at the Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, to immediately come up with modalities to reward the airman so as to encourage other personnel of the Service to continue to embody attitudes and behaviours that reflect NAF’s core values of Integrity, Excellence and Service Delivery” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari also hailed Bashir Umar where described such act as “uncommon, patriotic and exemplary,” the President enjoins Nigerians, especially the youth, to emulate such worthy gesture.
According to President Buhari, “Honesty and integrity will always remain admirable virtues, notwithstanding challenges before any country.”
He also applauds the leadership of the NAF for its decision to “reward the airman to encourage other personnel of the Service to continue to embody attitudes and behaviours that reflect NAF’s core values of Integrity, Excellence and Service Delivery.” he said.
Aircraftman, Bashir who was promoted 2 steps forward to the rank of Corporal, has not only skipped the rank of Lance Corporal but has attained a position that would have taken him over 7 years of uninterrupted military service to reach.
Speaking during the decoration ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who also presented the Airman with a letter of commendation, expressed extreme delight to be part of the history-making, exemplary conduct of the Airman. He added that the act duly portrayed the good values which the NAF holds in high esteem and this was why an aircraft was specially detailed to airlift the Airman from Kano to Abuja to attend the decoration and award ceremony.
According to him, “the special promotion of Aircraftman Bashir to the rank of Corporal, apart from serving as a reward for good conduct, is also to serve as motivation to other airmen and airwomen to aspire for such elevation. Aircraftman Bashir has earned the rank of Corporal by good conduct and as part of our desire to reward uncommon good deeds and excellence, we have chosen to have him decorated in front of his friends, peers and family”, the CAS added.
Air Marshal Abubakar equally commended the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command (AOC ATC), Commander National Air Defence Corp (NADC), Military Airport Commandant MAKIA as well as the ATC Air Warrant Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) MAKIA for providing the leadership and necessary guidance that had engendered such an admirable achievement.