N’Assembly Sends 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill To 36 State Assemblies

The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration, giving the state legislatures 30 days to communicate their resolutions on the proposed amendments.

The transmission, effected on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, was carried out by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, following a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.

The development marks the commencement of the stage of the constitutional amendment process requiring the participation of the state legislatures, whose approval is constitutionally required before the National Assembly can proceed with the proposed alterations.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ogunlana 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.”

According to the Clerk, Section 9 of the Constitution requires constitutional alteration bills to secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.

“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 places the 36 State Houses of Assembly at the centre of the next phase of the constitutional amendment exercise, with each legislature expected to consider the bill in accordance with its own legislative procedures.

The state assemblies are to deliberate on the proposed alterations and communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly upon completion of the process.

However, the National Assembly clarified that the 30-day period communicated to the state legislatures is an administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.

The Clerk said the State Houses of Assembly were expected to consider the bill and forward their resolutions within the period in the interest of an orderly and coordinated conclusion of the amendment process.

“For clarity, the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline,” Ogunlana said.

The latest development comes as the 10th National Assembly advances its constitutional review process, with the proposed alterations required to comply with the special procedure stipulated in Section 9 of the Constitution.

Unlike ordinary legislation, constitutional amendment bills require broader legislative concurrence, including 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 examine the proposals before communicating their positions to the National Assembly.

Ogunlana stressed that the transmission of the bill should not be interpreted as an attempt by the National Assembly to dictate how the state legislatures 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,” he said.

He further assured that the National Assembly would continue to adhere to the constitutional requirements governing the amendment exercise.

“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,” Ogunlana said.

He added that the next stage of the process would depend on the responses received from the State 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,” he stated.