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

It gave state legislatures a 30-day window to consider and communicate their positions on the 2026 Constitution alteration bill.

The transmission, made known by the National Assembly Clerk, Kamoru Ogunlana, yesterday, marks the next stage of the constitutional alteration process pursuant to the directive of the National Assembly leadership.

The move brings the 36 Houses of Assembly into the process, with the proposed amendments covering major areas of governance, including state police, local government autonomy, electoral reforms, judicial administration, devolution of powers, fiscal reforms, human rights and institutional reforms.

Among the most prominent proposals is the establishment of state police services alongside the federal police. The proposal is designed to create a constitutional framework for a two-tier policing structure, with states empowered to establish their own police subject to constitutional and legislative safeguards.

The proposed state policing framework has been under consideration as part of efforts to decentralise policing and improve local responses to insecurity. The Presidency had said the constitutional amendment would provide the legal foundation for state policing, while a separate enabling framework would address recruitment, training, oversight, funding and other operational matters.

Another major issue before the state legislatures is local government autonomy.

The Constitution review proposals seek changes to strengthen the political, administrative and financial independence of local councils and address the management of funds allocated to the third tier of government.

Local government autonomy has remained a major constitutional issue, particularly following the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment on direct funding of local councils. The constitutional review process has also considered the abolition or reform of the State Joint Local Government Account and mechanisms for ensuring that funds meant for councils are protected.

The proposals also touch on revenue allocation and fiscal federalism, an issue that has featured prominently in the constitutional review consultations.

Other areas identified in the review include inclusive governance and citizenship, legislative reforms, human rights, traditional institutions, institutional strengthening, and the creation of states and local governments.

For the proposals to clear the state-level hurdle, resolutions supporting them must be secured from at least 24 of the 36 Houses of Assembly, representing the constitutionally required two-thirds threshold.

Ogunlana, however, clarified that the 30-day period expected of the states is not a constitutional deadline, but adopted as an administrative measure to ensure an orderly and timely conclusion of the process, as the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which state legislatures must communicate their resolutions.

The Clerk urged the states to consider the bill through their respective legislative procedures and transmit their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.

The National Assembly also acknowledged the constitutional independence of the state legislatures, saying the transmission was intended to facilitate their discharge of the responsibilities assigned to them under Section 9.

The statement expressed the National Assembly’s commitment to conduct the amendment process in compliance with constitutional provisions, due process and the legislative responsibilities of the different tiers of government.