Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved a 25 per cent increase under the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for eligible employees of the Abia State House of Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
The new salary arrangement will take effect from January 2027, making Abia the first state in the South-East to implement the structure for parliamentary workers, according to the state government.
The approval was announced on Wednesday, in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Ukoha, who said it followed recommendations by the Committee on CONLESS, which reviewed issues relating to the remuneration of legislative workers.
CONLESS is a specialised salary framework designed for employees of legislative institutions, including the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and their respective service commissions.
Its implementation is intended to address remuneration concerns among parliamentary workers and improve their conditions of service.
According to the statement, the salary structure had yet to be implemented in several states despite sustained demands by legislative workers for improved salaries and welfare packages.
With the approval, eligible employees of the Abia State House of Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission are expected to begin receiving salaries under the new arrangement from January 2027.
The state government described the decision as a demonstration of Otti’s commitment to workers’ welfare, fairness and the strengthening of democratic institutions in Abia.
It added that the administration remained committed to providing a conducive working environment for public servants and supporting government institutions to carry out their responsibilities effectively.