The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged 490 candidates participating in the 2026 Master Warrant Officer to Army Warrant Officer promotion exercise to uphold professionalism and discipline.

Shaibu gave the charge on Tuesday in Abeokuta at the inauguration of members of the promotion exercise board.

Represented by the Chief of Personnel Management, Maj.-Gen. Adewale Adekeye, Shaibu said the exercise was designed to identify the most qualified personnel for promotion to army warrant officer.

He described the army warrant officer rank as the pinnacle of career progression for enlisted personnel, noting that only the best candidates would attain the rank.

The COAS said the promotion board was constituted to assess the 490 candidates and select those considered most suitable to serve the Nigerian Army at the next level.

He admonished the candidates to remain professional and disciplined throughout the exercise, while urging board members to conduct the assessment with firmness, professionalism and impartiality.

“My charge to them is to be professional and disciplined on the part of the candidates; and on the part of the board members; to be firm, professional and dispassionate.

“Do not favour anybody, but grant everybody an equal level playing ground so that the best can emerge.

“During this exercise, candidates shall undergo comprehensive medical examination to ascertain their mental and physical fitness to qualify them for other parts of this exercise.

“On this note, I want to congratulate all of you, even before you start.

“For coming this far in your career, I acknowledge your resilience, your dedication, and your loyal service to Nigerian Army and the nation at large,” Shaibu said.

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Adebayo Babalola, welcomed the candidates and expressed the brigade’s readiness to host the promotion board.

NAN reports that the exercise was hosted by the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, at the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta, and scheduled to run from Oct. 5 to Oct. 18. (NAN)

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