2026 Constitution Amendment Bill Moves to States

• The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution Alteration Bill to all 36 State Houses of Assembly, opening the next crucial phase of the constitutional amendment process.

• The state legislatures are required to consider the proposed amendments independently, with at least two-thirds, or 24 of the 36 assemblies, needed to approve the bill.

• The National Assembly has requested that the state assemblies communicate their resolutions within 30 days, while stressing that the period is only an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.

• The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the transmission does not direct the state assemblies on how to vote, stressing that their constitutional independence must be respected.

September 17, () – 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 for consideration and approval.

The development, which took place on Wednesday, September 16, marks the commencement of the next stage of the 2026 constitutional amendment exercise.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, saying the transmission was carried out following a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly and in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

“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,” Ogunlana said.

Under Section 9 of the Constitution, bills seeking to alter the Constitution require the support of the state legislatures in addition to the approval process at the National Assembly.

Specifically, an amendment cannot proceed without approval by resolutions of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, representing 24 states.

Ogunlana explained that the requirement was part of the constitutional safeguards designed to ensure that alterations to the country’s supreme law receive broad legislative support across the federation.

“Section 9 of the Constitution provides, among other requirements, that a Bill for the purpose of altering the provisions of the Constitution shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolution of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation,” he stated.

30-Day Period

The National Assembly has urged the state assemblies to consider the bill and communicate their respective resolutions within 30 days of receiving it.

However, Ogunlana clarified that the 30 days should not be interpreted as a constitutional deadline.

“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,” he said.

According to him, the timeframe was introduced strictly as an administrative measure to promote an orderly and timely conclusion of the exercise.

“For clarity, the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline,” Ogunlana said.

States to Decide Independently

The National Assembly also stressed that the transmission of the bill should not be interpreted as an instruction to the state legislatures on how they should deliberate or vote on the proposals.

Ogunlana said the National Assembly recognised the constitutional powers and independence of the State Houses of Assembly in the amendment process.

“The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill,” he said, adding that the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the states’ constitutional responsibilities.

The clarification comes as the amendment proposals enter a stage where the individual decisions of the 36 state legislatures will determine whether the required threshold of state approval can be achieved.

Background

The 2026 constitutional amendment exercise is being conducted under the special procedure established by Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

Unlike ordinary legislation, constitutional alterations require a wider level of legislative agreement because they affect provisions of the country’s supreme law.

The National Assembly has been considering various proposals for constitutional amendments as part of efforts to address issues relating to Nigeria’s political, electoral, judicial and governance structures.

Ogunlana assured that the federal legislature would continue to follow the constitutional requirements throughout the exercise.

“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 said.

He said the next phase would be determined by the decisions eventually transmitted by the state assemblies.

“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,” Ogunlana added.