My Success As Chief Of Army Staff Hinged On RSM – General Faruk Yahaya 

The Nigeria’s Chief of Army of Staff, COAS, General Faruk Yahaya has revealed that his success as the Country’s highest Army Chief is hinged on the Regimental Sergeant Majors, RSM, just as he officially declares the first RSMs’ Convention 2023 closed. 

The Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a press release signed and sent to Treasure Newspaper on Friday, said, “the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major General Faruk Yahaya has stated that the Regimental Sergeant Majors, RSM, are key to achieving his vision of having a Professional Nigerian Army that is ready to accomplish assigned missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria”. 

Yahaya was said to have made the above assertion today, the 12th of May, 2023;  while declaring the event closed. 

Yahaya revealed that the week-long Nigerian Army (NA) First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention for the year 2023, was held at Crispan Suites, Jos, Plateau State.

The Army Chief averred that the RSMs play vital roles of impacting knowledge and mentoring of young officers and soldiers deployed to their new units.  

Describing the RSMs as an embodiment of unit discipline, regimentation and experience, Gen Yahaya urged them  to take interest in grooming their subordinates to grow to become good soldiers.

The COAS further charged the RSMs to be committed and be exemplary in their conducts and carriage in order to present themselves as worthy examples for emulation by younger soldiers. 

While emphasizing the role of the RSMs in promoting professionalism in the Nigerian Army, General Yahaya urged them to deploy the knowledge and skills acquired from the convention to impact positively on troops’ discipline and regimentation in their various units and formations. 

He disclosed that the crucial roles of the RSMs inspired the leadership of the Nigerian Armt to deepen its interest in the welfare of the RSMs, as well as the capacity development of every soldier of the Nigerian Army. 

General Yahaya noted that the theme of the Convention titled: “The Roles of the Regimental Sergeant Majors’ in Upholding the Tenets of Professionalism in the Social Media Era” was carefully selected to positively shape troops’ behaviour and bring about attitudinal change in tandem with extant Social Media policy and guidelines of the Armed Forces of Nigeria”.

The COAS also enjoined the RSMs to encourage camaraderie amongst themselves, as well as take keen interest in the well-being and welfare of their subordinates, while equally ensuring they checkmate untoward activities and vices in their units and formations.

Delivering his remarks earlier, the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Wilson Ali, pointed out, “that the 2023 RSMs’ Convention was a huge success, as the participants will take home several new skills and lessons to enhance professionalism in their respective units and formations. He appreciated the COAS for prioritizing troops’ welfare in his administration of the Nigerian Army. 

The climax of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the participants by the COAS.