NASS transmits constitution review bills to State Assemblies

By Kayode Idowu

The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution Alteration Bills to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and concurrence.
The development marks a major stage in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, with the proposed amendments now requiring the consideration of state legislators before the process can proceed to the next stage.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, formally transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the state legislatures on Wednesday, September 16.
The transmission was made pursuant to Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires proposed constitutional amendments passed by the National Assembly to be approved by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
This means that at least 24 state legislatures must endorse the relevant alteration bills before they can be presented to the President for assent.
The National Assembly said the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the constitutional responsibilities of the state legislatures.
“The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill,” the Clerk said in a statement.
He added that the process would be conducted in accordance with the Constitution, due process and the legislative responsibilities of the various tiers of government.
Although the Constitution does not prescribe a deadline for state legislatures to communicate their decisions, the National Assembly has reportedly set a 30-day administrative timeframe to encourage the timely completion of the exercise.
The proposed constitutional alterations cover several areas of governance and institutional reform.
One of the prominent proposals is the establishment of state police, which has attracted renewed attention amid continuing concerns over insecurity across the country.
The proposed state police framework seeks to introduce a decentralised policing structure while retaining a federal policing system with responsibilities for national security and other matters.
The proposal has been the subject of extensive legislative discussions, public consultations and engagements with stakeholders.
The House of Representatives had earlier passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to provide for state police, while the Senate also advanced its consideration of the proposal.
Under the proposed framework, states would have greater responsibility for policing within their jurisdictions, subject to constitutional and legislative safeguards.
The National Assembly’s transmission of the bills to the state assemblies therefore represents another constitutional hurdle that must be crossed before the proposed amendments can become law.
Once the required number of state assemblies approves the relevant amendments, the National Assembly will take the necessary further steps under Section 9 of the Constitution before presenting the amendments to the President for assent.
The Clerk said the National Assembly would await the resolutions of the state legislatures and proceed in accordance with the constitutional requirements.
The development comes as lawmakers continue efforts to reform aspects of Nigeria’s governance structure through the ongoing constitutional review exercise.