NASS Begins Constitution Alteration Process, Transmit Bill to 36 State Assemblies

<p>By Excellence Oseose<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>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&comma; 1999 &lpar;Sixth Alteration&rpar; Bill&comma; 2026&comma; to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;apc-national-working-committee-state-chairmen-meet-in-maiduguri-ahead-of-2027&sol;">APC National Working Committee&comma; State Chairmen Meet in Maiduguri Ahead of 2027<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Clerk to the National Assembly&comma; Kamoru Ogunlana&comma; Esq&period;&comma; transmitted the Bill to the respective State Houses of Assembly on Wednesday&comma; September 16&comma; 2026&comma; in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution&comma; as amended&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>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&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>In a statement issued on Wednesday&comma; 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&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;adc-denies-apc-defection-claim-says-paraded-persons-are-not-its-candidates&sol;">ADC Denies APC Defection Claim&comma; Says &OpenCurlyQuote;Paraded’ Persons Are Not Its Candidates<&sol;a><&sol;p><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Although the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period for the State Houses of Assembly to communicate their resolutions&comma; the National Assembly expects the assemblies to complete the process and transmit their decisions within 30 days of receiving the Bill&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Clerk&comma; however&comma; clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>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&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>According to him&comma; the transmission is intended to facilitate an orderly and coordinated discharge of the State Houses&&num;8217&semi; constitutional responsibilities&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;fg-declares-october-1-public-holiday-for-nigerias-66th-independence-anniversary&sol;">Nigeria Declares October 1 Public Holiday for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary<&sol;a><&sol;p><p>The National Assembly also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution&comma; due process&comma; institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of government&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Ogunlana said the National Assembly would proceed with the necessary steps under the Constitution upon receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;