A fresh controversy has engulfed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) over the continued stay in office of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, with a civil society group alleging that he has remained in office despite attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
The allegations were contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Justice and Fairness Vanguard (JFV), signed by its Chairman, Audu Abubakar, and Secretary, Folake Abimbola.
The group claimed that Mohammed reached the compulsory retirement age two months ago and ought to have vacated office in line with the Public Service Rules. It argued that his continued occupancy of the position lacked constitutional and administrative backing, insisting that no official communication had been issued by the Federal Government extending his tenure.
According to the group, unlike the tenure extensions granted to some heads of government agencies, such as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, there has been no public announcement or presidential approval extending the FRSC Corps Marshal’s appointment.
JFV maintained that under the Public Service Rules, public officers are expected to retire upon attaining 60 years of age or completing 35 years in service, whichever comes first. It argued that Mohammed’s appointment should have automatically lapsed upon reaching the age limit, thereby creating a vacancy that should be filled through a fresh appointment.
The group further questioned whether the office of the Corps Marshal is exempt from the retirement provisions applicable to civil servants or whether it is governed by a distinct tenure arrangement under the FRSC Establishment Act.
It noted that although Mohammed joined the FRSC in April 1992 and has not completed 35 years in service, his attainment of the mandatory retirement age should, in its view, bring his service to an end.
JFV also warned that allowing him to remain in office beyond the retirement age could undermine career progression within the Corps by delaying the promotion of senior officers eligible to succeed him.
The group threatened legal action against the Federal Government if it failed to appoint the most senior Deputy Corps Marshal as his successor, which it claimed was the statutory requirement.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the FRSC were unsuccessful, as the Deputy Corps Commander in charge of Public Education, Osondu Ohaeri, could not be reached for comment.
However, a senior FRSC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, dismissed the allegations. The official maintained that the Corps Marshal’s appointment is a four-year presidential tenure running until 2028 and is therefore not governed by the retirement age provisions applicable to the regular civil service.
“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.
