By Wasila Yakubu
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has approved a new salary arrangement for eligible workers of the state House of Assembly, making Abia the first state in the South-East to adopt the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS).
The approved arrangement provides for a 25 per cent implementation of the salary structure, with payment expected to commence in January 2027.
The state government announced the decision on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, following recommendations from a committee set up to examine the implementation of CONLESS for legislative employees.
The approval covers qualified staff of the Abia State House of Assembly and the State House of Assembly Service Commission.
CONLESS is a specialised remuneration framework designed for employees working in legislative institutions, including the National Assembly, state legislatures and their respective service commissions.
Its adoption is intended to address salary concerns and improve the welfare and working conditions of personnel responsible for the administrative, technical and other support functions of legislative institutions.
The state government noted that several states had yet to implement the structure despite repeated calls by parliamentary workers for improved salaries and welfare benefits.
Otti's decision is expected to offer financial relief to eligible employees as they contend with rising living costs and other economic pressures.
The government described the move as part of the administration's broader commitment to improving workers' welfare, promoting fairness and strengthening democratic institutions in Abia.
It also reaffirmed its intention to improve working conditions across the public service and provide government institutions with the support needed to deliver effectively.
However, the announcement did not specify the number of workers expected to benefit, provide a detailed breakdown of the revised salary scale or disclose the financial cost of the implementation.
Further details are expected to clarify the operational guidelines for the new arrangement before its scheduled commencement in January 2027.
Wasila Yakubu
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