By Excellence Oseose
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 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
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The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., transmitted the Bill to the respective State Houses of Assembly on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Section 9 requires a constitutional amendment Bill to secure the approval of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can proceed through the constitutional alteration process.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ogunlana requested the State Houses of Assembly to consider the Bill in line with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after concluding their consideration.
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Although the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period for the State Houses of Assembly to communicate their resolutions, the National Assembly expects the assemblies to complete the process and transmit their decisions within 30 days of receiving the Bill.
The Clerk, however, clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.
He said the National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility of the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in considering the proposed constitutional alterations.
According to him, the transmission is intended to facilitate an orderly and coordinated discharge of the State Houses’ constitutional responsibilities.
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The National Assembly also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution, due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of government.
Ogunlana said the National Assembly would proceed with the necessary steps under the Constitution upon receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly.