Nigeria’s Constitution Amendment Process Advances, States to Communicate Resolutions Soon.
Nigeria’s Constitution Amendment Process Advances, States to Communicate Resolutions Soon.
The Nigerian National Assembly has officially transmitted the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly, initiating a crucial phase in the country’s constitutional reform process. This move follows the successful passage of the proposed amendments by both chambers of the National Assembly, marking a significant step toward constitutional change. The transmission was carried out on Wednesday by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, who emphasized that the 30-day period given to states for consideration is an administrative timeframe, not a constitutional deadline.
According to Ogunlana, the process is governed by Section 9 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended. This section mandates that any constitutional alteration bill must be approved by at least two-thirds of the state legislatures—meaning at least 24 of the 36 states must give their approval before the process can proceed further. The bill was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives after extensive debate and amendments, with both chambers needing to concur on the same version before transmission to the states.
The next step involves the state legislatures reviewing the bill according to their procedures and communicating their resolutions back to the National Assembly. While the law does not specify a strict deadline for these responses, the Clerk has requested that states aim to conclude their review within 30 days of receipt to facilitate a smooth and timely process. Ogunlana stressed that this period is a suggestion aimed at promoting orderliness, not a binding constitutional deadline, and affirmed the independence of state legislatures in considering the amendments.
This development is particularly significant given the approaching expiration of the current legislative session in June 2027. Critics and observers have expressed concerns that the constitutional review could be delayed or overshadowed by the preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, as past reform efforts have often faced similar hurdles. However, leaders like Senate President Godswill Akpabio have assured the public that the process will be completed before the end of the current Assembly’s term.
The proposed amendments under review include reforms related to governance, political restructuring, and other constitutional provisions. The process demands a high level of consensus, requiring approval from both the federal legislature and a substantial majority of the state legislatures, making it a complex and sensitive undertaking. The outcome of the state-level approvals will determine whether Nigeria can successfully implement the proposed constitutional changes before the 2027 elections and the end of the current legislative term.
This transmission underscores the ongoing efforts by Nigeria’s lawmakers to reform the constitution, a process that has historically been contentious and resource-intensive. The next few weeks will be critical as state legislatures consider and vote on the proposed amendments, which could have lasting implications for Nigeria’s political and constitutional landscape.
