Abia State Adopts New Salary Structure for Assembly Workers

Abia State has made a significant move by becoming the first state in the South-East region to adopt the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for its parliamentary workers. Governor Alex Otti has approved a 25% salary increase for eligible staff, which will take effect in January 2027.

The new salary structure will apply to employees of the Abia State House of Assembly and the House of Assembly Service Commission. Njoku Ukoha, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, announced this decision on Wednesday. The approval came after a committee recommended the implementation of CONLESS.

CONLESS is a pay structure designed for legislative workers across the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. Many states have yet to implement it, despite ongoing requests from parliamentary workers.

This new pay structure aims to reduce pay gaps among legislative staff, enhance their welfare, and strengthen the overall capacity of the legislature. It also represents a major step in Abia’s efforts to improve salaries in the public sector and promote fairness among workers in the state.