President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime says it contacted the United States and other “leading democratic nations” over its transition programmes to hand over power to President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the federation and chairman of the presidential transition council, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a world press conference to mark the beginning of the May 29 presidential inauguration activities.

“In furtherance of discharging its functions, the PTC interfaced with leading democratic nations, including the U.S. and the Republic of Kenya. This is part of its learning efforts to pick up useful lessons in line with international best practices,” Mr Mustapha explained.

He called for specific legisla­tion to guide future presidential transition programmes. He said it had become necessary for Nigeria to toe the line of some countries, whose transition law dates back to 1963.

The SGF said that without legislation, the transition council had to interface with leading democratic nations to ensure international best practices in the May 29 transition process.

He added, “It is important to state that these countries have specific legislation on the presidential transition, some of which date back to 1963. It is our expectation that specific legislation on presidential transition in Nigeria would be passed soon.”

He further said that the PTC built on the Transition Technical Task Team (TTTT) foundation, which he inaugurated in December 2022.

“The task team is the product of a collaborative effort between the Federal Government and development partners, and we remain grateful to these partners,” he explained. “The significance of the above is underscored by the desire of this administration to lay a solid foundation for seamless transition of power by institutionalising the process through legislation.”

The SGF said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the establishment of a 24-member PTC in February through Executive Order 14, and was inaugurated on February 14. The council includes two representatives of Mr Tinubu.

(NAN)