2026 Constitution Amendment: N’Assembly Sends Bill To 36 States

Nigeria’s latest constitutional amendment exercise has entered another phase following the transmission of the Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The Bill, formally titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was sent to the state legislatures following a directive from the National Assembly leadership.

Ogunlana said the process was being conducted under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

The constitutional provision requires a proposed alteration to receive approval from at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly before the National Assembly can pass it.

The Clerk called on the state legislatures to examine the Bill through their respective legislative procedures.

He further requested that each assembly submit its resolution to the National Assembly after concluding its deliberations.

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Although there is no specific constitutional deadline for the state Houses of Assembly to respond to constitutional amendment proposals, Ogunlana said they are expected to communicate their decisions within 30 days after receiving the Bill.

He stressed that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe rather than a deadline prescribed by the Constitution.

The National Assembly said it acknowledged the constitutional role of the state legislatures and would respect their independence throughout the process.

It explained that forwarding the Bill to the states was intended to facilitate the orderly exercise of their constitutional responsibilities.

The National Assembly will consider the responses from the 36 state assemblies before proceeding with subsequent stages.

The lawmakers also reaffirmed their commitment to constitutional compliance, due process, cooperation between institutions and respect for the responsibilities of Nigeria’s different tiers of government.