The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, asking them to consider the proposals and communicate their resolutions within 30 days, while stressing that the timeframe is administrative and not a constitutional deadline.
The transmission was effected on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, following a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
The development means the proposed constitutional amendments have now entered the stage requiring the participation of the state legislatures, whose approval is constitutionally required before the National Assembly can proceed with the process.
In a statement signed by Ogunlana and issued on Wednesday, the Clerk said the transmission was made pursuant to Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He said, “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 of the Federation for their consideration and approval.”
The statement explained that Section 9 requires constitutional alteration bills to secure the support of at least two-thirds of the state legislatures.
“Section 9 of the Constitution provides, among other requirements, that a Bill for the purpose of altering the provisions of the Constitution shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolution of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation,” he stated.
The transmission therefore places the 36 state legislatures at the centre of the next phase of the amendment exercise.
The state assemblies have been asked to consider the bill in line with their respective legislative procedures and forward their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.
The National Assembly, however, clarified that the 30-day period expected for the state legislatures to respond is not a constitutional deadline.
“The Clerk to the National Assembly has requested the State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and to communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly upon conclusion of their consideration.
“It is noted that 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. Nevertheless, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the constitutional alteration process, the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receipt.
“For clarity, the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline,” the statement added.
The latest move comes as the 10th National Assembly advances its constitutional review process, with any amendment requiring compliance with the special procedure prescribed by Section 9 of the Constitution.
Unlike ordinary legislation, constitutional alteration bills require broader legislative concurrence. The process involves approval by the National Assembly and ratification by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
The state legislatures are therefore expected to independently deliberate on the proposals before communicating their positions to the National Assembly.
The Clerk stressed that the transmission should not be interpreted as an attempt to 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. The transmission is intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of their constitutional role in the process.”
Ogunlana further assured that the National Assembly would continue to observe the constitutional requirements governing the amendment exercise.
He said, “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.”
He said the next step would depend on the responses of the state legislatures.
“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.”
