COAS Tasks RSMs On Discipline, Ethical Conduct Among Troops
By Umar Faruk Tukur
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) of the Nigerian Army to reinforce the warrior ethos among troops to sustain combat power, enhance operational effectiveness and ensure mission success across formations and units.
Shaibu gave the charge during the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention 2026 held at the JN Garba Hall, Postgraduate School, Old Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
The convention, themed: “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,” provided a platform for professional engagement, exchange of operational experiences and discussions on strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture and regimental standards within the Nigerian Army.
In his address, the COAS described RSMs as custodians of discipline, regimentation and military tradition, stressing that their leadership role remains critical in sustaining troop morale, operational cohesion and esprit de corps, especially among personnel deployed in various theatres of operation.
He noted that cultivating a strong warrior ethos remains essential towards building disciplined, resilient and mission-oriented troops capable of confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats.
Shaibu also cautioned personnel against misuse of social media and other digital platforms, warning that unregulated online activities could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity and negatively affect military operations.
He urged RSMs to lead by example through responsible digital conduct and strict adherence to established communication protocols within their formations and units.
The Army Chief further 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.
According to him, effective mentorship remains critical towards building a highly motivated, combat-ready and professionally grounded force.
Earlier, the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi, said the convention reflects the Nigerian Army’s commitment towards enhancing administrative efficiency, professionalism and sustained operational readiness in line with the COAS’ command philosophy.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge and strategic insights gained during the convention towards improving troop welfare, discipline, regimentation and operational effectiveness within their formations and units.