Bill

The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration, moving the proposed amendments to the next stage of the constitutional review process. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following a directive from the National Assembly leadership. The state assemblies have been asked to consider the proposals and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days. States Required to Consider Bill The transmission is part of the procedure prescribed by Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires constitutional alteration bills to secure approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. Ogunlana said the National Assembly had commenced the next stage of the process by forwarding the bill to the state legislatures for consideration and approval. The state assemblies are expected to deliberate on the proposals independently and follow their respective legislative procedures before communicating their decisions. 30-Day Period Is Not Constitutional Deadline The National Assembly clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a deadline imposed by the Constitution. “The Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the State Houses of Assembly are required to communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill,” Ogunlana said. He explained that the timeframe was introduced to promote an orderly and timely conclusion of the amendment process. The Clerk also stressed that the transmission of the bill does not dictate how the state assemblies should consider the proposals. “The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill,” he said. Next Step Depends on State Assemblies Ogunlana assured that the National Assembly would continue to follow the constitutional requirements governing the amendment process. “Upon receipt of the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,” he said.