The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, says Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) are key to achieving professionalism in the Nigerian Army.
Yahaya said this at the closing of a week-long Nigerian Army First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention 2023, on Friday in Jos.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement in Abuja.
The COAS said that RSMs were key to achieving his vision of having “a Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions Within a Joint Environment in Defense of Nigeria”.
He added that RSMs play vital role in imparting knowledge and mentoring young and new officers and soldiers deployed to various units.
Yahaya also described the RSMs as the embodiment of unit discipline, regimentation and experience, urging them to take interest in grooming their subordinates to grow and become good soldiers.
Yahaya further charged them to be committed and exemplary in their conduct and carriage, in order to serve as worthy example to younger soldiers.
While emphasizing the role of the RSMs in promoting professionalism in the army, the COAS urged them to use the knowledge and skills acquired from the convention to impact positively on troops’ discipline and regimentation.
He added that they must inspire leadership and deepen interest in the welfare and capacity development of every soldier.
Yahaya said that the theme of the convention, “the Roles of Regimental Sergeant Majors’ in Upholding the Tenets of Professionalism in the Social Media Era”, was selected to positively shape troops’ behavior.
He added that it was to bring about attitudinal changes, in tandem with the Social Media policy and guidelines of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Yahaya enjoined them to checkmate untoward activities and vices in their units and formations.
In his remarks, the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Wilson Ali, said the 2023 RSMs’ convention was a huge success.
According to him, the participants will take home several new skills and lessons to enhance professionalism in their respective units and formations.
Ali appreciated the COAS for prioritizing troops’ welfare in his administration of the Nigerian army.
