Otti Approves New Salary Structure for Abia Workers

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has approved the implementation of a 25 per cent Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for eligible employees of the Abia State House of Assembly and the State House of Assembly Service Commission, effective January 2027.

The state government described Abia as the first state in the South-East to adopt the salary arrangement for legislative workers.

The approval was announced in a statement released on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Ukoha.

According to the statement, Otti approved the measure after considering recommendations from a committee set up to examine issues surrounding the implementation of CONLESS for parliamentary employees.

The CONLESS is a dedicated salary framework for staff of legislative institutions, including the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and their respective service commissions. 

It is designed to address pay disparities and improve the welfare of workers who support legislative operations.

The government noted that several states had yet to implement the structure despite repeated calls from parliamentary workers for better salaries and improved working conditions.

Under the new arrangement, eligible employees of the Abia State Assembly and its Service Commission will begin receiving the adjusted salaries from January 2027.

The government said the decision reflects Otti’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and strengthening democratic institutions in the state. 

It added that his administration would continue to support public servants and provide an enabling environment for government institutions to perform their duties.

The approval forms part of the administration’s broader public service reforms, which focus on staff welfare, institutional efficiency and improved service delivery.

However, the statement did not disclose the number of workers expected to benefit, provide details of the revised salary scale or state the financial cost of implementing the adjustment.

Further information on the implementation guidelines is expected to clarify how the new structure will apply to eligible employees before it takes effect in January 2027.