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 of the federation for consideration and approval.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, saying the transmission was made pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly.
According to Ogunlana, the Bill was transmitted to the respective State Houses of Assembly in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, marking the commencement of the next stage of the constitutional alteration process.
Section 9 provides, among other requirements, that a Bill seeking to alter the provisions of the Constitution shall not be passed by either chamber of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolutions 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 upon conclusion of their deliberations.
He 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.
However, he said that, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the process, the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receipt.
Ogunlana clarified that the 30-day period was an administrative timeframe and did not constitute a constitutional deadline.
He stressed that the National Assembly recognised the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respected their independence in considering the Bill.
He said the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the State Houses of Assembly’s constitutional role in the constitutional alteration process.
The Clerk reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to conducting the process 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 added that upon receipt of the resolutions from the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly would proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
