Nigeria NASS Sends Constitution Bill to 36 States

Nigeria's National Assembly on Wednesday transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval. Clerk Kamoru Ogunlana signed the transmission letters pursuant to Section 9 of the Constitution.

The bill primarily seeks to establish state police services and is the only amendment proposal passed by both chambers of the 10th Assembly. The Senate approved the executive version on June 24, followed by the House of Representatives on July 23 after withdrawing its own earlier version.

“The 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.”

Section 9 requires approval by resolutions of at least two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures — a minimum of 24 states — before the National Assembly can proceed. The Clerk requested state assemblies to communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receipt.

Ogunlana clarified that the 30-day window is an administrative timeframe, not a constitutional deadline. He emphasized that state legislatures remain constitutionally independent in their deliberations on the proposed amendments.

Daily Trust reported that only the State Police Bill was transmitted, contrary to earlier indications that the Sixth Alteration covered 12 thematic areas including electoral and judicial reforms. A source in the Clerk's office said other amendment bills have not yet passed the National Assembly.