By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – 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 consideration and approval.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, saying the transmission was carried out pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly.
According to him, the Bill was transmitted to the respective State Houses of Assembly in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Section 9 stipulates, among other requirements, that a Bill seeking to alter the provisions of the Constitution shall not be passed by either chamber of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolutions of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states.
Ogunlana requested the State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly upon conclusion of their deliberations.
He noted that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which State Houses of Assembly must communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill.
However, he said that, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the process, the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receipt.
The Clerk clarified that the 30-day period was only an administrative timeframe and did not constitute a constitutional deadline.
He stressed that the National Assembly recognised the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respected their independence in considering the Bill.
According to him, the transmission is intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the State Houses of Assembly’s constitutional role in the alteration process.
“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,” the statement said.
Ogunlana added that upon receipt of the resolutions from the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly would proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
