As part of the requirement for constitutional amendment, the leadership of the National Assembly transmitted 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, and set a 30-day administrative timeline
The National Assembly has transmitted 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, giving the state legislatures an expected administrative timeframe of 30 days to communicate their resolutions.
The transmission, which marks the next stage in the constitutional alteration process, was carried out by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly.
However, the National Assembly clarified that the 30-day period is not a constitutional deadline, noting that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the state Houses of Assembly must communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration bill.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Ogunlana said the state legislatures were 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 constitutional alteration process.”
“For clarity, the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline,” the statement said.
The transmission was made in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which sets out the procedure for altering the Constitution.
Under the constitutional provision, a bill seeking to alter the Constitution cannot be passed by either chamber of the National Assembly unless it is approved by a resolution of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states.
The Clerk requested the state Houses of Assembly to give the bill the requisite consideration in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after concluding their consideration.
“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,” the statement said.
The National Assembly also acknowledged the constitutional responsibility of the state legislatures in the amendment process, stressing that their independence would be respected in considering the proposed constitutional alterations.
“The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill,” Ogunlana stated.
According to the statement, the transmission is intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the constitutional role assigned to the state legislatures in the amendment process.
The National Assembly further reaffirmed its commitment to conducting the constitutional alteration process in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution, as well as the principles of due process and institutional cooperation.
“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,” it said.
The statement added that the National Assembly would take the necessary steps required under the Constitution after receiving the resolutions of the various Houses of Assembly.
“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,” the Clerk said.
