Abia State Governor Alex Otti has approved the implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for eligible staff of the Abia State House of Assembly and the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission. The approval marks a significant development in the state's legislative workforce compensation, positioning Abia as the first state in the South-East region to adopt this specific salary framework for parliamentary staff.
The decision grants a 25% adjustment under the CONLESS framework, a move recommended by the Committee on CONLESS. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the new salary structure will take effect beginning in January 2027. The announcement was made public by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, who shared the details with journalists in Umuahia.
CONLESS is the standardized salary structure applicable to legislative staff within the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and their respective Service Commissions. For some time, the implementation of this structure had remained outstanding in several states, despite persistent demands from parliamentary workers for its adoption to standardize pay and benefits.
Regional First and Institutional Commitment
By moving forward with this approval, Abia State distinguishes itself as the pioneer in the South-East geopolitical zone to implement CONLESS for its legislative employees. The statement issued by the Governor’s office emphasized that the decision underscores Governor Otti’s commitment to workers' welfare and fairness.
Furthermore, the administration framed the approval as a measure to strengthen democratic institutions within Abia State. The implementation aims to address long-standing issues regarding legislative staff compensation, aligning the state’s practices with broader national standards for parliamentary workers.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
