2026 Constitution Alteration Bills Move to State Assemblies

Nigeria’s latest constitution review has reached the stage where state lawmakers will have a major say in which proposed alterations survive.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the 2026 Constitution alteration process has moved from the National Assembly to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration.

The transmission marks an important stage because constitutional amendments require more than ordinary legislative approval.

Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a Constitution alteration bill must pass both chambers of the National Assembly by the required majority before being transmitted to the states.

At least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, meaning 24 states, must approve an alteration before the process can be completed.

The state stage therefore puts the proposals before lawmakers across Nigeria, where each assembly will consider the provisions and decide whether to support them.

Constitutional amendment is deliberately more demanding than ordinary legislation because changes to the nation’s basic legal framework require wider institutional agreement.

ADVERTISEMENT

The process also means that passage by the National Assembly does not automatically make a proposed alteration part of the Constitution.

The coming debates in the state assemblies will therefore be central to determining which of the 2026 proposals proceed.

For citizens, the important issue is not simply whether amendments pass, but whether lawmakers follow the constitutional procedure, make the proposals available for scrutiny and exercise their powers transparently.

The Constitution remains the final guide, and every alteration must stand on the strength of the law and the required legislative process, ValidViewNetwork reports.