The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shu’aibu, has charged  250 Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) to strengthen discipline, mentorship and professional standards to enhance combat readiness and operational effectiveness across the Nigerian Army.

Shu’aibu gave the charge at the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention 2026 held on Thursday at Headquarters 1 Division, Kaduna.

The COAS said the convention had provided a valuable platform for productive interactions, knowledge sharing and professional engagement aimed at strengthening regimentation and professionalism in the Nigerian Army.

He commended the participants for their active contributions throughout the convention, noting that the deliberations had deepened their understanding of the strategic roles RSMs play in the overall functioning of the Army.

“The leadership and mentorship standards you uphold will greatly shape and define the ideals of professionalism that our soldiers adopt as the true measure of soldiering,” he said.

According to him, the theme of the convention, “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,” underscored the critical role of RSMs in fostering operational competence, sustaining fighting spirit and promoting esprit de corps among troops.

The army chief urged the participants to return to their formations, units and establishments with renewed determination to nurture disciplined and combat-ready soldiers capable of effectively discharging the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigerian Army.

Shu’aibu said the convention addressed critical issues, including strengthening discipline and regimentation, combating drug abuse and substance misuse among troops, mentorship and professional development of junior non-commissioned officers, and promoting ethical conduct and military values.

Other topics discussed, he said, included effective communication between commanders and soldiers, building cohesion and esprit de corps, as well as leadership roles of RSMs in enhancing operational effectiveness.

The COAS also highlighted the growing influence of the digital environment on the military profession, stressing the need for RSMs to guide younger soldiers, particularly those from the Gen Z demographic, on responsible social media usage and digital conduct.

He noted that while social media could serve as a tool for strategic communication, morale boosting and projecting professionalism, its misuse could undermine operational security and discipline.

“You must deliberately shape them to internalise our core values of discipline, integrity, loyalty and selfless service while ensuring they operate strictly within the ambit of established policies on social media usage,” he said.

Shu’aibu urged RSMs to conduct regular digital awareness briefings in their units and lead by example both offline and online.

He appreciated the resource persons, the Chief of Administration (Army), and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division for organising the convention successfully.

The COAS also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support to the Nigerian Army.

Earlier, the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi, urged the participants to remain steadfast in providing purposeful leadership at all levels.

Abdullahi said the prevailing security environment required discipline, resilience, loyalty and professionalism from all personnel.

He described RSMs as custodians of regimentation, discipline and military ethics, stressing that they must continue to mentor younger soldiers, enforce standards and sustain troop morale and cohesion.

“The effectiveness of our operations largely depends on the quality of leadership and discipline maintained at the unit level,” he said.

He assured personnel of the commitment of Army Headquarters to improving the welfare, training and professional development of RSMs and other personnel to strengthen operational effectiveness against emerging security challenges.

The convention was formally declared closed with participants charged to disseminate and implement the lessons learned in line with extant military regulations and directives.