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.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, saying the transmission followed a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
The move marks the next stage in the ongoing constitutional alteration process and was carried out in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Under Section 9, a Bill seeking to alter 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 36 State Houses of Assembly.
Ogunlana urged the State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in line with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their consideration.
Although the Constitution does not prescribe a specific timeframe for State Houses of Assembly to communicate their resolutions on constitutional alteration Bills, the National Assembly said it expects the state legislatures to conclude their consideration and communicate their decisions within 30 days of receiving the Bill.
The Clerk, however, clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.
The National Assembly said it recognises the constitutional responsibility of the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in considering the Bill.
It added that the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the state legislatures’ constitutional role in the amendment process.
The National Assembly further reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process complies strictly with the Constitution and follows due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of government.
Ogunlana said the National Assembly would take the necessary next steps in accordance with the Constitution upon receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly.
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