2026 Constitution Review: National Assembly Sends Alteration Bill to 36 States
The National Assembly has commenced the next stage of the constitutional alteration process with the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration and approval.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Ogunlana said the transmission was carried out pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly and in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Section 9 provides that a Bill seeking to alter the provisions of the Constitution cannot be passed by either chamber of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolutions of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states.
The Clerk urged the respective State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in line with their legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after concluding their deliberations.
He explained that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which State Houses of Assembly must communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill.
However, he said the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receipt in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the process.
Ogunlana clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.
He stressed that the National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in considering the Bill.
According to him, the transmission is intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the constitutional role of the State Houses of Assembly in the alteration process.
“The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution and in accordance with the principles of due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature,” the statement said.
Ogunlana added that upon receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly would take the necessary further steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
