The Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has urged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) of the Nigerian Army(NA) to deepen discipline amongst personnel, particularly during engagements in internal security operations.
Governor Tambuwal gave the charge Monday 14 November 2022, while declaring open the Second RSMs Convention 2022, with the theme, “Capacity Building for Regimental Sergeant Majors in the Nigerian Army for Enhanced Regimentation”, held at the Headquarters 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Giginya Barracks, Sokoto State.
TheFact Daily reports that Governor Tambuwal emphasized that the continous involvement of the Nigerian Army in internal security operations has necessitated troops’ regular interaction with the civil populace, hence bringing their conduct under scrutiny. As a result, the RSMs must effectively carry out their critical role of entrenching regimentation and discipline in the Army.
He further stated that the recent onslaught against banditry was creating an enabling atmosphere for socio-economic activities in the State, and commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) for promoting capacity development, professionalism and welfare of personnel in the NA.
The Army Chief, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, while noting that the convention was pivotal to capacity building for RSMs, whom he described as custodians of discipline and regimentation in the Army, charged them to be conversant with all ethics, customs and traditions of the NA, as well as be abreast with the Army’s engagements in internal security operations, counter terrorism and insurgency, amongst other operations.
Yahaya expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the confidence he continued to repose on the Nigerian Army in carrying out its constitutional roles, and also showered encomiums on the Government and people of Sokoto State for their cooperation and support to the Nigerian Army and other military and security agencies in the state.
In his remarks to the participants, the Chief of Administration (Army) Maj. Gen. Wilson Ali, urged them to ensure that knowledge and skills imbibed in the convention were employed to enhance both their professional and routine engagements.
One of the Resource persons at the convention, Brig. Gen. Dele Arogundade, a Chartered Emotional Intelligence professional in the Nigerian Army, spoke on, “Emotional Intelligence and Leadership in the Nigerian Army: The Role of Regimental Sergeant Majors”.
Highlights of the event were the decoration of the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Maj Gen Uwem Bassey, with the newly approved Lanyard and insignia of the Division by the COAS, the commissioning of residential quarters for RSMs of 48 Engineers and 58 Signal Brigades.
Dignitaries who witnessed the event were the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Maj Gen Stevenson Olabanji; the Chief of Operations (Army), Maj Gen Olufemi Akinjobi; the Provost Marshal (Army), Maj Gen Robert Aiyenigba; and the Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), Maj Gen Ibrahim Salihu, amongst others.
