Abia State has become the first state in the South-East to implement the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for parliamentary workers, following Governor Alex Otti’s approval of a 25 per cent salary increment for qualified employees.
The new salary arrangement will cover staff of the Abia State House of Assembly and the House of Assembly Service Commission, with implementation scheduled to commence in January 2027.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Njoku Ukoha, announced the development in a statement on Wednesday, explaining that the approval was based on recommendations submitted by a committee established to determine the modalities for implementing CONLESS.
CONLESS is the officially approved salary structure for legislative personnel in the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and their respective service commissions.
However, several states are yet to implement the structure despite repeated calls by parliamentary workers for its adoption.
The move is expected to bridge existing salary gaps among legislative employees, enhance their welfare and improve the institutional effectiveness of the legislature.
The approval further highlights Abia State’s commitment to improving public sector salaries and ensuring equitable treatment across its workforce.
