The National Assembly has forwarded the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the Houses of Assembly in all 36 states for consideration and approval.
‎The transmission, which marks the next stage in the constitutional alteration process, was carried out by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, following a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
‎According to a statement signed by Ogunlana, the transmission was made in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
‎Section 9 provides that a bill seeking to alter the Constitution cannot be passed by 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 urged the state legislatures to give the bill the requisite consideration in line with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly upon conclusion of their deliberations.
‎The National Assembly clarified that although the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which state Houses of Assembly must communicate their resolutions on constitutional alteration bills, the legislatures are expected to consider the bill and communicate their positions within 30 days of receipt.
‎It, however, stressed that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe intended to facilitate an orderly and timely conclusion of the process and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.
‎The National Assembly also acknowledged the constitutional responsibility and independence of the state Houses of Assembly in considering the bill, noting that the transmission was aimed at facilitating the orderly discharge of their constitutional role.
‎“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,” the statement said.
‎The National Assembly said it would proceed with the necessary constitutional steps upon receiving the resolutions of the various state Houses of Assembly.
