By James Adamu
The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, who effected the transmission on Wednesday, said the state legislatures are expected to communicate their resolutions within 30 days.
He however clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.
The transmission, which followed a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly, marks the commencement of the next phase of the constitutional alteration process.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ogunlana said the Bill was transmitted 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.”
Section 9 of the Constitution requires that a constitutional alteration bill be approved by not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be passed.
Ogunlana said, “Section 9 of the Constitution provides, among other requirements, that either House of the National Assembly shall not pass a Bill for the purpose of altering the provisions of the Constitution unless it is approved by resolution of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation.”
The Clerk explained that the state Houses of Assembly are required to consider the Bill in line with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly upon conclusion.
He said, “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.”
Ogunlana also stated that the transmission was not intended to influence or dictate how the state legislatures should consider the proposals.
He said, “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 added that the National Assembly remained committed to ensuring the process was conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution.
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.”
According to him, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps upon receipt of the resolutions of the state Houses of Assembly.
He said, “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 transmission comes about two weeks after the Senate assured Nigerians that the constitutional amendment process would be completed before the expiration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2027.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the Senate leadership was determined to conclude the process within the lifespan of the current Assembly.
Adaramodu said, “The proposed constitution amendments, already started by the 10th National Assembly, shall be passed in the life of this current Assembly.
“However, January is not the terminal date of the 10th National Assembly, but June 2027.
“The Electoral Act, recently passed, has taken care of the January 2027 general elections.”
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had also assured that preparations for the 2027 elections would not prevent the National Assembly from performing its legislative responsibilities.
The transmission has now placed the 36 state Houses of Assembly at the centre of the next phase of the process, with their resolutions expected to determine whether the proposed amendments can advance before the 10th National Assembly winds down in June 2027.
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