The National Assembly has forwarded the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration, giving them an expected 30 days to submit their resolutions.
However, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, stressed that the 30-day period is only an administrative timeframe and is not a deadline imposed by the Constitution.
The bill was transmitted to the state legislatures on Wednesday following a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
In a statement, Ogunlana said the move was in line with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires state legislative approval for constitutional alterations.
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 requires an alteration bill to receive the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
Explaining the constitutional requirement, 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 transmission followed the passage of the proposed amendments by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Under the constitutional process, an alteration bill must first secure the required majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Where the proposal originates from one chamber, the other must also concur before the agreed version can be transmitted to the state legislatures.
The 36 state Houses of Assembly must now consider the proposals under their respective legislative procedures. At least 24 of them must approve the bill for the constitutional amendment process to move forward.
Ogunlana said the state assemblies had been asked to communicate their decisions to the National Assembly after completing their consideration.
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,” the statement added.
The National Assembly also said the transmission was not intended to dictate how the state legislatures should vote or 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.”
Ogunlana said the National Assembly would continue to follow the constitutional provisions guiding the exercise.
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.”
He added, “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 latest development comes as the 10th National Assembly faces a June 2027 deadline to complete its tenure.
The Senate had recently assured Nigerians that the constitutional review would be concluded before the end of the current Assembly, amid concerns that preparations for the 2027 general elections could disrupt the process.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the legislature remained committed to completing the exercise.
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.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has also said
