Acting COAS Tasks Armed Forces, Police RSMs On Interagency Cooperation
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Acting Chief of Army Staff (Ag COAS) Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has charged Regimental Sergent Majors (RSMs) of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force and the Nigeria Police to stop interagency rivalry.
Addressing RSM participants on Thursday at the recently concluded Second RSM Convention 2024 held at the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration(NASFA), Apapa, Lagos, Oluyede also urged them to be exemplary in carrying out their statutory duties as custodians of discipline, regimentation, as well as customs and traditions of their various services.
Lt. Gen. Oluyede reminded the RSMs of the cardinal position of discipline and regimentation, which he averred are essential traits to promoting inter-agency cooperation and drastically curbing unnecessary rivalry and skirmishes amongst services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police and other security and intelligence agencies.
He emphasized that the RSMs as a matter of urgency must shore up the level of discipline of personnel in order to ensure enhanced inter agency cooperation as well as a cohesive and formidable front to confront security challenges in the country, adding that all hands must be on deck in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and other sundry crimes in troubled parts of the country, while also developing and exhibiting positive attitudes to foster seamless joint operations to restore peace and tranquillity in the country.
Speaking also at the convention themed “Fostering Improved Discipline and Regimentation in the Nigerian Army for Enhanced Capacity to accomplish constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment”, the Chief of Administration Army(COA), Major General Jimmy Akpor described Regimental Sergeant Majors as not only the custodians of discipline, but also the bridge between the officers and soldiers in the Nigerian Army, adding that it was in that light that the Second Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention is organised to appraise the issues associated with discipline and regimentation in formations and units across services and security agencies.
The COA challenged the participants to be well versed in handling all matters relating to barracks security, personal security, and troops’ welfare.
The closing ceremony of the convention, which had over 200 RSM participants in attendance, witnessed a commemorative tree planting by the Acting COAS at the NASFA premises and was graced by senior officers from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The Acting COAS later commissioned 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Interns accommodation at Yaba, Lagos. The building, which consists of three floors, contains a total of 84 well furnished rooms with ensuite facilities and common room on each floor.
While commissioning the building, the Acting COAS charged both personnel and interns to ensure that the edifice is well maintained so as not to begin to dissipate resources by repeating the same project. He added that additional accommodation would be provided to cater for soldiers, as they must be put first in the scheme of welfare under his watch.
