Group Questions Legality of FRSC Corps Marshal’s Tenure After Retirement Age

Group Questions Legality of FRSC Corps Marshal’s Tenure After Retirement Age

By: Michael Mike

The continued stay in office of the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has come under scrutiny following allegations that he has exceeded the mandatory retirement age without an official extension of his appointment.

The concerns were raised by the Justice and Fairness Vanguard (JFV), which claimed that Mohammed attained the compulsory retirement age of 60 about two months ago but has remained in office despite the absence of any public announcement extending his tenure.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by its Chairman, Audu Abubakar, and Secretary, Folake Abimbola, the group argued that the Public Service Rules require public officers to retire at the age of 60 or after 35 years of service, whichever comes first.

It maintained that although the FRSC boss has yet to complete 35 years in service, having joined the Corps in April 1992, reaching the age limit should have marked the end of his service.

The group said it was unaware of any directive from the Presidency approving an extension of Mohammed’s tenure, unlike what it described as previous cases where such approvals were publicly announced for the heads of other government agencies.

It also called for clarification on whether the office of the Corps Marshal is exempt from the retirement provisions applicable to public servants or is regulated by a separate tenure arrangement under the FRSC Establishment Act.

According to the organisation, allowing the Corps Marshal to remain in office beyond the retirement age could delay the promotion of senior officers and create uncertainty within the Corps’ leadership structure.

JFV further threatened legal action if the Federal Government failed to appoint a successor, insisting that the most senior Deputy Corps Marshal should assume the position in accordance with the law.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the FRSC were unsuccessful, as the Corps’ spokesman, Osondu Ohaeri, could not be reached.

However, a senior FRSC official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, rejected the claims. The official said Mohammed’s appointment is a fixed four-year presidential tenure that runs until 2028 and is therefore not subject to the retirement rules governing career civil servants.

Group Questions Legality of FRSC Corps Marshal’s Tenure After Retirement Age