All 36 state governments have been given 30 days to take action on the National Assembly’s bill as part of the ongoing 2026 Constitution review process.
National Assembly
The 36 State Houses of Assembly have been given a 30-day administrative window to consider and communicate their positions on the 2026 Constitution alteration bill transmitted to them by the National Assembly.
The National Assembly transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to all state legislatures on Wednesday, moving the amendment process into its next constitutional stage.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the transmission was carried out in accordance with Section 9 of the Constitution, which requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly before constitutional amendments can proceed.
Ogunlana, however, clarified that the 30-day period expected of the state assemblies is not a constitutional deadline.
He said the timeframe was adopted as an administrative measure to ensure an orderly and timely conclusion of the process, stressing that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which state legislatures must communicate their resolutions.
The Clerk urged the state assemblies to consider the bill through their respective legislative procedures and transmit their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.
The National Assembly also acknowledged the constitutional independence of the state legislatures, saying the transmission was intended to facilitate their discharge of the responsibilities assigned to them under Section 9.
The statement said the National Assembly remained committed to conducting the amendment process in compliance with constitutional provisions, due process and the legislative responsibilities of the different tiers of government.
It added that the National Assembly would take the next necessary steps after receiving the resolutions of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
