The continued occupancy of office by the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has triggered a fresh debate, with a civil society organisation questioning the legality of his tenure after he reportedly attained the mandatory retirement age.
Justice and Fairness Vanguard (JFV), in a statement issued Friday in Abuja, contended that Mohammed ought to have vacated office upon turning 60, in line with the Public Service Rules governing retirement in the federal civil service.
Signed by the group’s Chairman, Audu Abubakar, and Secretary, Folake Abimbola, the statement argued that there has been no official pronouncement from the Presidency extending the Corps Marshal’s stay in office, despite claims that he has continued to discharge the responsibilities of the position.
The organisation noted that although the Federal Government had previously announced tenure extensions for the heads of some federal agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, no similar announcement has been made regarding the FRSC chief.
According to the group, the Public Service Rules provide that officers must retire after reaching 60 years of age or completing 35 years in service, whichever comes first. While Mohammed is said to have served for about 34 years since joining the Corps in April 1992, the group insisted that reaching the age limit should have automatically ended his service.
It also questioned whether the office of the Corps Marshal enjoys a special legal status that exempts it from the retirement provisions applicable to other public servants or whether it is governed by a separate tenure arrangement under the FRSC Act.
JFV further argued that any extension of Mohammed’s stay could impede the career advancement of senior officers awaiting promotion and succession within the organisation.
The group warned that it would explore legal options if the Federal Government failed to appoint a replacement, insisting that the most senior Deputy Corps Marshal should succeed him in accordance with the law.
When contacted, FRSC’s Deputy Corps Commander and Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, was unavailable to comment on the allegations.
However, a senior official of the Corps, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to address the media, dismissed the claims, maintaining that the Corps Marshal’s appointment is a four-year presidential tenure ending in 2028 and is not governed by the retirement provisions applicable to career civil servants.
Available records indicate that the Corps Marshal was born on 29 May 1966, meaning he attained the age of 60 years on 29 May 2026,” the group further said.
