State police/constitution amendment: NASS gives 36 state assemblies 30 days to respond

By Henry Umoru

The National Assembly has transmitted to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration and approval, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.

With the transmission, the National Assembly has asked state legislatures to consider the bill in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly upon completion of their deliberations.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Kamoru Ogunlana disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement he signed and the transmitted bill is State Police Establishment bill, being the only constitutional alteration bill that had been passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the current 10th Assembly .

Recall that the Senate on the strength of Executive bill received from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday , June 23, 2026, expeditiously considered and passed the State Police Establishment Bill for third reading on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, while the House of Representatives later considered the same executive bill and it was read the passed for third reading on July 23, 2026.

The transmission marks the commencement of the next phase of the constitutional alteration process, just as it was carried out in pursuant to Section 9 and a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.

The 2/3 concurrence means that at least, 24 out of the 36 States Houses of Assembly, must concur to the Constitution alteration bill before final transmission to President Tinubu for presidential assent.

The National Assembly also emphasised that the state legislatures remain constitutionally independent in considering the proposed amendments.

The development is significant because the Constitution requires substantial support from the state legislatures before the National Assembly can proceed with constitutional alterations, even as Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides that a bill seeking to alter the Constitution cannot 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.

Meanwhile, the Constitution does not prescribe a deadline for the state Houses of Assembly to communicate their resolutions, but the National Assembly said it expects them to do so within 30 days of receiving the bill.

Kamoru Ogunlana who noted that the 30-day period is only an administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline, said, “It is noted that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the State Houses of Assembly are required to communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill.

“Nevertheless, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the constitutional alteration process, the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receipt.

“For clarity,” he stressed, “the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.”

Ogunlana who explained that the federal legislature recognised the responsibility vested in the state Houses of Assembly and would respect their independence throughout the process, said, 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 CNA who further explained that the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the state legislatures’ constitutional responsibility rather than dictate the outcome of their consideration, however assured that the National Assembly would adhere strictly to constitutional requirements and due process as the exercise progresses.

He said, “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 state Houses of Assembly are now expected to commence their respective legislative consideration of the Sixth Alteration Bill.

After receiving their resolutions, the National Assembly will determine the next steps required under the Constitution.

Ogunlana said: “Upon receipt of the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”

The transmission of the bill to the 36 state legislatures therefore brings the constitutional amendment process to a critical stage, with the required state-level approval now forming the next major hurdle before further action by the National Assembly.