Abia Becomes First South-East State to Implement CONLESS for Assembly Workers

Abia State has become the first state in the South-East to approve the implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for parliamentary workers, following Governor Alex Otti’s approval of a 25 per cent salary increase for eligible employees.

The new salary structure will cover staff of the Abia State House of Assembly and the House of Assembly Service Commission, with implementation scheduled to begin in January 2027.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Njoku Ukoha, announced the approval in a statement on Wednesday, saying it followed recommendations from a committee established to work out the implementation of CONLESS.

CONLESS is the approved remuneration structure for legislative workers in the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and their respective service commissions.

However, its implementation has remained outstanding in several states, despite repeated demands by parliamentary workers for the adoption of the approved salary framework.

The Abia State Government expects the move to address disparities in the remuneration of legislative staff, improve their welfare and strengthen the institutional capacity of the state legislature.

The approval also represents a step in the state’s efforts to improve public sector remuneration and promote fairness among workers.