COAS tasks RSMs with mentorship, discipline for combat effectiveness
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) with deepening and reinforcing the warrior ethos as a strategic imperative for sustaining combat
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) with deepening and reinforcing the warrior ethos as a strategic imperative for sustaining combat power.
He said this would enhance operational effectiveness and ensure mission success across all formations and units of the Nigerian Army.
The Army Chief made this statement during the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Postgraduate School, Kaduna, on Thursday.
The theme of the convention was “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence.”
Shaibu said the event provides a “critical platform for professional engagement, exchange of operational experiences and strategic discourse focused on strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture and regimental standards” in support of the transformation drive of the Nigerian Army.
The COAS noted that RSMs are strategic custodians of discipline, regimentation and military tradition, stressing that their leadership influence remains vital in sustaining troop morale, operational cohesion and esprit de corps, particularly among personnel deployed across various theatres of operations.
He added that the cultivation of a strong warrior ethos remains central to building resilient, disciplined and mission-oriented forces capable of effectively confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats.
The COAS cautioned against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms, warning that unregulated online engagements could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity and negatively affect ongoing military operations.
He urged RSMs to lead from the front by enforcing responsible digital conduct, strengthening information discipline and ensuring strict compliance with established communication protocols within their respective units and formations.
The Army Chief charged the senior non-commissioned officers to intensify mentorship and leadership guidance for younger soldiers in order to preserve regimental values, strengthen professionalism and promote ethical conduct at all levels of command responsibility. He emphasised that effective mentorship remains critical to developing a highly motivated, combat-ready and professionally grounded force.
The Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen Isa Abdullahi, said the convention “reflects the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Army to enhancing administrative efficiency, professional excellence and sustained operational readiness” in line with the COAS’ command philosophy.
He urged participants to translate the knowledge, experiences and strategic insights gained during the convention into improved troop welfare, discipline, regimentation and operational efficiency within their respective formations and units.
