National Assembly: Nigeria 2026 Constitution Alteration Bill Gets 30-Day Deadline

• The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to all 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration.
• State assemblies are requested to provide their resolutions within an administrative 30-day period.
• This 30-day timeframe is an administrative guideline and not a strict constitutional deadline.
• The alteration bill requires approval from at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, as per Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.
• Kamoru Ogunlana, Clerk to the National Assembly, confirmed the transmission, marking a critical phase in the amendment process.

While state legislatures have been given an expected 30-day period to respond, this timeframe is administrative and explicitly not a constitutional deadline.

The National Assembly has officially initiated the next critical phase of Nigeria's constitutional amendment process by transmitting the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to all 36 state Houses of Assembly. This significant development, which occurred on Wednesday, includes a request for the state legislatures to communicate their resolutions regarding the proposed changes within a 30-day timeframe. However, it was explicitly clarified that this 30-day period is an administrative guideline rather than a strict constitutional deadline.

The transmission was carried out by Kamoru Ogunlana, the Clerk to the National Assembly, acting under a direct instruction from the National Assembly's leadership. This action sets in motion the crucial requirement for state legislative approval, which is a constitutional prerequisite for the amendment process to advance further.

The transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was made pursuant to Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. This section outlines the rigorous process for altering the nation's foundational legal document, mandating that a bill for such a purpose must secure the approval by resolution of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. This means that at least 24 of the state legislatures must endorse the proposed changes for them to proceed.

Prior to reaching the state assemblies, the proposed alterations underwent a thorough process within the National Assembly itself. Both chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives, had to pass the bill with at least a two-thirds majority of all their members. Furthermore, if the bill originated in one chamber, it was required to be transmitted to the other for concurrence, ensuring that both legislative bodies agreed on the identical text before its onward transmission to the states.

While state legislatures have been given an expected 30-day period to respond, this timeframe is administrative and explicitly not a constitutional deadline. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, emphasized that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific duration within which state Houses of Assembly must communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration bill. This administrative window is primarily intended to facilitate an orderly, coordinated, and timely conclusion to the constitutional alteration process.

State legislatures are expected to consider the proposals in accordance with their own established legislative procedures and subsequently communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly upon the conclusion of their deliberations. The National Assembly has also made it clear that the act of transmission is not intended to influence or dictate how the state legislatures should approach or decide upon the proposed alterations, respecting their constitutional responsibility and autonomy in the process.

This current stage represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria's foundational legal document. The involvement of the state Houses of Assembly is not merely procedural but forms a constitutionally mandated check, ensuring broad consensus across the federation for significant legal changes. As the Nigeria 2026 Constitution alteration bill 30-day deadline (albeit administrative) approaches for state responses, the outcomes from these legislative bodies will directly shape the future legal framework of the nation.

The National Assembly's clear distinction between an administrative expectation and a constitutional requirement underscores the autonomy of state legislatures while also signaling an intent for an expeditious, yet proper, conclusion to this vital national undertaking. Lawyers and compliance officers should closely monitor this process to anticipate potential shifts in the legal landscape.

Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor the progress of the 2026 Constitution Alteration Bill through the State Houses of Assembly, particularly within the 30-day administrative window, to anticipate potential changes to the legal framework. It is crucial to note that while a 30-day period is expected for state resolutions, this is an administrative timeframe and not a strict constitutional deadline, allowing for potential variations in the legislative process.

Source: Original reporting via news reports