2026 Constitution Amendment: Bill Sent To 36 State Assemblies For Consideration

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Key Takeaways

The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has been transmitted to all 36 State Houses of Assembly.
The Bill is formally known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.
The transmission is part of the constitutional amendment process under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.
The State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly.
A 30-day period has been given as an administrative timeframe for responses, but it is not described as a constitutional deadline.

The National Assembly has moved the 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill to the next stage of consideration by transmitting it to the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

The development means the state legislatures will now consider the proposed constitutional alterations according to their respective legislative procedures before sending their resolutions back to the National Assembly.

The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill Moves To The States

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

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the transmission was carried out as part of the procedure required for constitutional alteration under the 1999 Constitution.

Why The 36 State Assemblies Must Consider The Bill

The involvement of the State Houses of Assembly is a constitutional requirement in the amendment process.

Ogunlana said Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution requires at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly to approve a Bill seeking to alter the Constitution before the National Assembly can pass it.

This places the 36 state legislatures at an important stage of the process, as their resolutions will form part of the steps required before the National Assembly proceeds further with the constitutional amendment.

What Section 9 Requires

The constitutional procedure means the proposed alterations cannot simply be concluded at the National Assembly without consideration by the State Houses of Assembly.

The state legislatures are therefore expected to deliberate on the Bill through their respective legislative procedures and communicate their positions to the National Assembly.

The current development should consequently be understood as a stage in the amendment process, rather than an indication that the proposed constitutional changes have already become law.

The 30-Day Administrative Timeframe Explained

The Clerk to the National Assembly also addressed the timeframe for the state legislatures to respond.

According to Ogunlana, while the Constitution does not provide a specific deadline for State Houses of Assembly to communicate their decisions on constitutional amendment Bills, they are expected to respond within 30 days of receiving the Bill.

He clarified, however, that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.

That distinction means the timeframe communicated by the National Assembly should not be presented as a constitutional requirement for completing the state-level consideration.

What The State Assemblies Are Expected To Do

The National Assembly has urged the 36 State Houses of Assembly to consider the Bill in accordance with their individual legislative procedures.

After concluding their deliberations, the state legislatures are expected to send their resolutions to the National Assembly.

The process therefore places responsibility on each State House of Assembly to consider the proposed constitutional alterations before communicating its position.

National Assembly’s Position On The Process

The National Assembly said the transmission was intended to enable the State Houses of Assembly to carry out their constitutional responsibilities in an orderly manner.

It also emphasised the importance of respecting the legislative role and independence of the state legislatures during the consideration 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,” the statement said.

The lawmakers also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the amendment process follows constitutional provisions, due process, cooperation among institutions and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of government.

What Happens After The State Resolutions?

The next stage will depend on the resolutions communicated by the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

The National Assembly said it would take the next steps after receiving the resolutions from the state legislatures, in line with the Constitution.

For now, the Bill remains at the stage where it is being considered by the state legislatures. The supplied statement does not establish the final outcome of those deliberations.

What To Watch Next

The immediate development to watch is how the State Houses of Assembly handle the transmitted Bill and when they communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly.

The number of state assemblies supporting the proposed constitutional alterations will also be relevant to the constitutional process because the National Assembly statement refers to the requirement for approval by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.

Further action by the National Assembly is expected after the state-level resolutions have been received.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill?

It is a proposed constitutional alteration formally titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.

Why was the Bill sent to the 36 State Houses of Assembly?

The National Assembly transmitted the Bill to the state legislatures as part of the constitutional amendment process under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

What does Section 9 require?

According to the statement from the Clerk to the National Assembly, at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly must approve a Bill seeking to alter the Constitution before the National Assembly can pass it.

Is the 30-day period a constitutional deadline?

No. Ogunlana clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe, rather than a constitutional deadline.

What will the State Houses of Assembly do?

They are expected to consider the Bill according to their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after their deliberations.

What happens after the State Assemblies send their resolutions?

The National Assembly said it will take the next steps after receiving the resolutions, in accordance with the Constitution.

Conclusion

The transmission of the 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill to Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly marks another stage in the proposed constitutional alteration process.

The state legislatures are now expected to consider the Bill through their respective procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly.

The next phase will depend on those resolutions and the subsequent action taken by the National Assembly in accordance with the constitutional process.

What are your thoughts on the next stage of the 2026 Constitution amendment process? Share your views in the comments.

TAGS: Houses of Assembly