- Agency Report
A controversy is brewing at the Federal Road Safety Commission Corps (FRSC) following the prolonged tenure of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, two months after attaining 60 years mandatory retirement age.
A group, Justice and Fairness Vanguard (JFV), raised the concern over the development in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, signed by its Chairman, Audu Abubakar, and Secretary, Folake Abimbola.
The group alleged that the Corps Marshal ought to have retired from service upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 but was still calling the shots at the commission.
It alleged that the FRSC Corps Marshal has been carrying out unconstitutional duties for the past two months since the Federal Government did not officially give him a tenure extension.
JEV alleged that since his tenure elapsed in line with public service rules, the presidency which announced his appointment about two years ago had not officially communicated the extension of his tenure.
The group alleged that contrary to precedents in the tenures of the Comptroller-General of Customs and the Nigerian Customs Service, whose tenures were officially extended, Mohammed’s tenure was not extended.
According to JEV, under the Public Service Rules, civil servants are required to retire upon reaching 60 years of age or 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
It noted that the provision, which is regarded as the standard retirement benchmark for public officers, was widely being applied across federal establishments.
The group emphasised that retirement age rules automatically terminated the Corps Marshal’s appointment, his office having become vacant two months ago requiring a new appointment, which the Federal Government had not done.
The group wondered whether the retirement age provision does not apply to the office of the Corps Marshal or whether the position was governed by a separate tenure structure under the FRSC Establishment Act and presidential appointment powers.
“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 Corps Marshal joined the FRSC in April 1992, placing his total length of service at approximately 34 years, below the 35-year service threshold.
“If a tenure-based interpretation is adopted, the incumbent may remain in office pending the completion of an approved term or executive directive, but this is not the case in FRSC,” the group said.
Beyond violating the public service rules, JEV claimed that the Corps Marshal’s continued stay in office, or officially extending same, would block career progression and promotional opportunities for younger officers waiting to ascend the ranks.
The group warned that it would be compelled to take immediate legal action against the Federal Government if it failed to appoint the most senior FRSC Deputy Corps Marshal as his successor as statutorily stipulated.
When contacted, Osondu Ohaeri, FRSC’s Deputy Corps Commander, Public Education, was not available for immediate comments on the development.
However, a top official of the FRSC, who preferred to be anonymous because he was not officially authorised to speak on the issue, denied the allegations.
He said the Corps Marshal was appointed for a four-year term, which would end in 2028, adding that his tenure was a political appointment that was not subject to retirement age stipulations. NAN