RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
The National Assembly has forwarded the 1999 Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration and approval.
The state legislatures have been asked to deliberate on the proposed amendments through their respective legislative processes and transmit their decisions to the National Assembly after concluding their consideration.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Ogunlana, the transmission was carried out in line with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, following a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
He said the state Houses of Assembly retained their constitutional independence in considering the proposed amendments and that the National Assembly would not interfere with their deliberations.
Section 9 of the Constitution provides that a bill seeking to alter its provisions must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states before the National Assembly can take further steps on the amendment.
However, the Constitution does not specify a time limit within which state legislatures must communicate their decisions on constitutional alteration bills.
Despite the absence of a constitutional deadline, the National Assembly has asked the state assemblies to complete their consideration and submit their resolutions within 30 days of receiving the bill.
Ogunlana clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative target intended to ensure an organised and timely process, rather than a deadline imposed by the Constitution.
He said, “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 Clerk said the National Assembly recognised the constitutional responsibilities assigned to the state legislatures and would respect their autonomy throughout the exercise.
He explained that the transmission was aimed at enabling the state assemblies to perform their constitutional duties rather than influencing the outcome of their deliberations.
Ogunlana also assured that the National Assembly would follow the provisions of the Constitution and applicable due process throughout the amendment exercise.
The 36 state Houses of Assembly are now expected to begin consideration of the Sixth Alteration Bill and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly.
Once the resolutions are received, the National Assembly will take further steps in accordance with the constitutional procedure for altering the 1999 Constitution.
