Constitution Review: We Will Act In National Interest — Speakers

State Houses of Assembly are set to begin the consideration of proposed constitutional amendments transmitted by the National Assembly, with the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria saying it will engage the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) before taking a position on the proposed state police framework.

The chairman of the conference and speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Dennis Guwor, said the speakers were awaiting the formal transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, before commencing consultations.

Guwor spoke against the backdrop of the Clerk to the National Assembly’s announcement that the constitutional alteration Bill, including the proposed State Police Bill, had been transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nkem Nwaeke, Guwor said the Speakers had taken note of the development but were still expecting the formal copies of the Bill.

“We are still awaiting formal transmission, and as soon as we receive it, we will do what will be good for the people of Nigeria,” Guwor stated.

He said the Conference would subject the proposed amendments to thorough legislative scrutiny on their merits once they were received, adding that the proposal on State Policing required careful consideration because of its implications for sub-national governance.

Guwor disclosed that the Conference intended to engage the leadership of the NGF to harmonise perspectives on the proposed State Police framework before the State Assemblies take their final positions.

He said such engagement was important given the constitutional responsibilities of governors and state legislatures in the reform process.

The Speaker assured that all members of the Conference would be kept abreast of developments, adding that resolutions reached by the State Assemblies would be communicated to the National Assembly in line with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The National Assembly on Wednesday 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.

The transmission marks another stage in the ongoing constitutional alteration process and was carried out by the Clerk of the National Assembly following a directive from the National Assembly leadership.

In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the Bill was transmitted to the respective State Houses of Assembly on Wednesday, 16 September, in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Section 9 sets out the procedure for altering the Constitution and provides, among other requirements, that a Bill seeking to amend its provisions shall not be passed by either House 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.

Ogunlana urged the State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after concluding their deliberations.

The Clerk noted that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which State Houses of Assembly must communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill.

He, however, said that, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the process, the State Houses of Assembly were expected to consider the Bill and communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receiving it.

Ogunlana clarified that the 30-day period was an expected administrative timeframe and did not constitute a constitutional deadline.

The National Assembly also acknowledged the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and said it respected their independence as they considered the proposed amendments.

According to the statement, the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the state legislatures’ constitutional role in the alteration process.

“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 statement said.

The National Assembly said that upon receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, it would take the necessary further steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

With the Bill now before the 36 state legislatures, the next phase of the constitutional review process will depend on the consideration and resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, including their positions on the proposed State Police framework.