By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

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, formally commencing the next phase of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

The transmission was confirmed on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, in a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja.

Ogunlana said the bills were transmitted to the respective State Houses of Assembly pursuant to the directive of the National Assembly leadership and in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The proposed Sixth Alteration covers 12 thematic areas, including electoral reforms, judicial reforms, security and policing, local government administration, inclusive governance and citizenship, the legislature, devolution of powers, human rights, fiscal reforms, strengthening of institutions, traditional institutions, and the creation of states and local governments.

The State Houses of Assembly are now required to consider the proposed amendments in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.

Although the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the state legislatures must communicate their decisions, the National Assembly has asked them to do so within 30 days of receiving the bills.

The Clerk, however, stressed that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.

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

Section 9 of the Constitution requires constitutional alteration bills, except those subject to higher thresholds under the same section, to secure the support of at least two-thirds of the members of each chamber of the National Assembly and approval by resolutions of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of the states.

For alterations affecting Section 8, Section 9 itself or Chapter IV of the Constitution, the Constitution prescribes a higher threshold of a four-fifths majority in each chamber of the National Assembly, alongside approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two-thirds of the states.

The transmission therefore places the 36 State Houses of Assembly at the centre of the next stage of the amendment process.

The National Assembly said it recognised the constitutional responsibility and independence of the state legislatures and would respect their respective legislative procedures.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to conducting the process in accordance with the Constitution, due process, institutional cooperation and the legislative responsibilities of the different tiers of the legislature.

“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 Clerk stated.

The latest development follows the National Assembly’s consideration of constitution-related proposals before its annual recess. The State Police Bill was the notable proposal considered during that period, receiving the support of 311 House members across party lines on July 23, 2026, while other constitution-related bills were not considered or passed before the recess.

With the transmission of the Sixth Alteration Bill to the 36 state legislatures, attention now shifts to the individual Houses of Assembly and their consideration of the proposed changes.

This version is structured for a front-page newspaper treatment, with the headline and two riders carrying the immediate news while the body provides the constitutional context and the major areas covered by the review.

The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) has warned motorists against the use of cylinders not designed or certified for the storage of CNG.

The Pi-CNG & EV gave the warning in a statement signed by its Head of Brand and Communications, Onyekachi Eke on Monday in Abuja and made available to newsmen.

Eke said she received with concern a report of an ugly incident involving a cylinder fitted to a vehicle at one of the filling stations along Airport Road, Abuja, on Sunday.

 “The driver of the vehicle was subsequently apprehended and is expected to face the full weight of the law for the use of an unauthorised cylinder, which endangered lives and property.

“This incident again highlights the serious danger of using unauthorised cylinders and components for CNG conversion.

Eke noted that a cylinder is not a CNG cylinder simply because it could contain gas adding that improvising with cylinders designed for other uses was against the approved safety guidelines.

“Cylinders designed for other purposes should not be converted, adapted or improvised for the storage of CNG.

The Head of Brand and Communications warned that the use of substandard, fabricated, expired or unapproved cylinders puts vehicle owners, passengers, technicians, station personnel and other members of the public at risk.

Eke called on vehicle owners and commercial operators to use only National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC)-accredited conversion centres and SON-certified CNG kits and cylinders.

She urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) licensed refuelling station operators to remain vigilant and ensure that appropriate safety and verification procedures were followed before dispensing CNG.

She added that the Pi-CNG & EV would continue to work with its partners and relevant authorities to strengthen compliance, public awareness, and safety across Nigeria’s growing CNG ecosystem.(NAN)

By David Torough, Abuja

The legal battle over the Onise of Ise stool in Lagos State has taken a new turn, with contempt proceedings initiated against Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu, whose installation as the Onise of Ise Kingdom was recently nullified by the Lagos State High Court.

The development follows a September 11, 2026 order by Justice Yetunde Adesola Adesanya in Suit No.

LD/0022PRA/2026, directing the Lagos State Government to withdraw the appointment and recognition granted to Saliu and setting aside his installation and coronation conducted on August 21.

The court also ordered Saliu to stop parading himself or holding himself out as the Onise of Ise pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The fresh contempt proceedings are contained in documents made available by counsel to the claimants, The Legal Hub Partnership, which represents members of the Okuoye Ruling House, Igbekodo Quarters, Ise Town.

A Form 48 notice dated September 15 was issued against Saliu, warning him of the consequences of alleged disobedience of the court’s orders.

Similar notices were issued to the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Yekini Lanre Agbaje; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa.

The notices relate to the orders made by the court in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute and warn that continued failure to comply could result in contempt proceedings and attendant legal consequences.

In the September 11 ruling, Justice Adesanya had ordered the withdrawal of the instrument of appointment issued to Saliu and nullified the installation and coronation carried out on August 21.

The court further restrained him from presenting himself as the Onise of Ise Kingdom while the substantive case remains pending.

Following the ruling, The Legal Hub Partnership, in a letter dated September 15 and addressed to the Lagos State Government, formally drew the authorities’ attention to the orders and urged compliance.

The law firm specifically asked the government not to recognise Saliu or accord him the official status, rights or privileges attached to the Onise stool unless and until a competent court makes a contrary order.

The latest development stems from a dispute over the process through which Saliu emerged as Onise of Ise.

The claimants, Alhaji Adeniyi Atere, Mrs Idowu Adebisi Lana and Mr Babatunde Ekundayo Lana, instituted the suit for themselves and on behalf of the Okuoye Ruling House.

The September 11 ruling had found that an earlier interim order issued on August 13 had been infringed when the disputed installation proceeded on August 21.

The court consequently granted mandatory orders directing the reversal of the installation and withdrawal of the instruments of office.

However, the court made clear that its orders were interim in nature and would remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The underlying dispute over who is legally entitled to occupy the Onise of Ise stool therefore remains before the court, even as the latest contempt proceedings introduce a separate legal issue concerning compliance with its orders.