BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Nigerian Army, Monday, flagged off its second Regimental Sergeant Majors’ convention at the headquarters of 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto State.
The convention which has as its theme, “Capacity Building for Regimental Sergeant Majors in the Nigerian Army for Enhanced Regimentation” is geared towards equipping them as custodians of the Army tradition.
Welcoming the participants, the General Officer Commanding, GOC 8 Division, and Commander, Operation Hadarin Daji Joint Task Force, Major General Uwem Bassey, said since the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Farouk Yahaya assumed office, he has placed high priority on the welfare of all Army personnel including the Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs).
This, according to Bassey, was demonstrated through several ways ranging from improved welfare to provision of special residences in addition to two brand new Hilux vans.
The GOC further appreciated the COAS for ensuring consistent training of personnel, adding that it will no doubt guarantee competence, facilitate effective service delivery and optimal performance.
Addressing the participating RSMs from across all Army formations, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya said he approved the bi-annual hosting of the RSMs convention which debuted in Lagos, adding that the outcome afterwards was very commendable.
“This, therefore, was the reason for holding the second convention here in Sokoto State. The RSMs are key and very essential staff of the Nigerian Army as fathers of their respective units. They are the custodians of regimentation, discipline, customs and traditions of the Nigerian Army.
“The way RSMs behave, that is the way we want every soldier to behave. And when he sees something wrong, he would be able to check it. RSMs even support the Command where they are, in the unit, in the brigade and in the division, when there are issues of discipline, hence they have been there for quite a long time, so they know better how to handle issues of regimentation.”
While stressing that RSMs serve as bridge between commissioned and noncommissioned officers, the COAS added that, avenues like this help them to improve and remember their roles.
Talking on the importance of training and retraining, the COAS said it is one of the cardinal pillars of his philosophy for the Nigerian Army.
The training, according to Lt Gen Farouk leads to acquisition of new skills and competence that will be matched with equipment and other enablers to achieve results.
“We honestly appreciate and thank President Muhammadu Buhari for all the human and resources support he has been giving us for us to succeed and now the criminals, the bandits, the terrorists and all the kidnappers have no hiding place. That is the marching order from the President, and we are working on that”, assured the COAS.
Before declaring open the 2nd RSMs convention, the Special Guest of Honour and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said the COAS believed in the professionalism of the Nigerian Army as demonstrated by his commitment to enhanced training and retraining.
To the RSMs, Tambuwal said, “Your role is very critical, hence there cannot be a regimented Army without discipline which you represent.”
Noting that the COAS is doing well, Tambuwal prayed that he should be given more time to be able to continue the excellent job he is doing.
Participants at the convention also include principal officers of the Nigerian Army Headquarters.
