The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) of the Nigerian Army to reinforce the warrior ethos as a key requirement for sustaining combat power, and ensuring mission success across formations and units nationwide.
The COAS gave the charge on Thursday 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,” served as a platform for professional engagement, exchange of operational experiences and strategic discussions aimed at strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture and regimental standards in support of the Nigerian Army’s transformation drive.
In his address, Lieutenant General Shaibu described RSMs as custodians of discipline, regimentation and military tradition, stressing that their leadership remains critical to sustaining troop morale, operational cohesion and esprit de corps, especially among personnel deployed in various theatres of operations.
He noted that cultivating a strong warrior ethos is essential to building resilient, disciplined and mission-oriented troops capable of confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats effectively.
The COAS also warned against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms, cautioning that unregulated online activities could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity and negatively impact ongoing military operations.
He urged RSMs to lead by example through responsible digital conduct, stronger information discipline and strict adherence to established communication protocols within their formations and units.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further directed senior non-commissioned officers to intensify mentorship and leadership guidance for younger soldiers to preserve regimental values, strengthen professionalism and promote ethical conduct across all levels of command responsibility.
Earlier, the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi, said the convention reflected the Nigerian Army’s commitment to improving administrative efficiency, professional excellence 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 toward improving troop welfare, discipline, regimentation and operational efficiency in their respective units.
