‘Why Is He Still in Office?’ Group Challenges FRSC Chief’s Continued Stay After 60

A fresh controversy has erupted within the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) over the continued stay of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed in office, more than two months after he reportedly attained the mandatory retirement age of 60.

The issue was brought to the fore by the Justice and Fairness Vanguard (JFV), which accused the FRSC boss of remaining in office without any official approval for a tenure extension from the Federal Government.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja and signed by its Chairman, Audu Abubakar, and Secretary, Folake Abimbola, the group argued that Mohammed ought to have retired upon reaching the age limit prescribed by the Public Service Rules.

According to the group, the Corps Marshal has continued to exercise the powers of his office despite the absence of any formal communication from the Presidency extending his tenure.

JFV maintained that while similar tenure extensions granted to heads of agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service were publicly announced and documented, no such declaration had been made regarding the FRSC chief.

The group cited provisions of the Public Service Rules, which require public servants to retire after attaining 60 years of age or completing 35 years of service, whichever comes first. It noted that the regulation serves as the standard retirement benchmark across federal institutions.

The organisation argued that by virtue of reaching the retirement age, the office of the Corps Marshal should have become vacant, thereby necessitating the appointment of a successor.

Raising questions over the legal basis for Mohammed’s continued stay in office, the group sought clarification on whether the position of Corps Marshal is exempt from the retirement provisions applicable to other public officers or whether it operates under a separate tenure arrangement provided by the FRSC Establishment Act.

“Is a serving FRSC Corps Marshal, appointed into a top executive role, not bound strictly by civil service retirement rules upon reaching the age limit, or does the nature of the appointment allow continuation in office beyond the age threshold?” the statement queried.

The group further pointed out that Mohammed joined the FRSC in April 1992 and has served for about 34 years, which is below the 35-year service ceiling. However, it insisted that attaining the age of 60 should automatically trigger retirement under existing rules.

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JFV also warned that allowing the Corps Marshal to remain in office or granting him an extension could hinder career progression within the commission by delaying promotion opportunities for senior officers awaiting elevation.

The group threatened legal action against the Federal Government if a successor is not appointed, insisting that the most senior Deputy Corps Marshal should assume the position in line with statutory provisions.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the FRSC were unsuccessful, as Deputy Corps Commander in charge of Public Education, Osondu Ohaeri, was unavailable for comment at the time of filing this report.

However, a senior FRSC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, dismissed the allegations.

The official maintained that Mohammed’s appointment is tenure-based and political in nature, stressing that he was appointed for a four-year term scheduled to expire in 2028.

According to the source, the Corps Marshal’s position is not governed by the conventional retirement age applicable to career civil servants, making the claims of illegality unfounded.

The conflicting interpretations have now placed the legality of the Corps Marshal’s continued stay in office under public scrutiny, setting the stage for what could become a major legal and administrative test for the commission and the Federal Government.