Governor Alex Otti approves a 25% CONLESS salary adjustment for eligible Abia Assembly workers from January 2027

Abia State Governor, Dr 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 Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission, effective January 2027.

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The approval, announced in Umuahia on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, makes Abia the first state in the South-East to adopt the remuneration framework for its parliamentary workforce, according to the state government.

The decision followed recommendations submitted by the Committee on CONLESS, which examined issues surrounding the adoption of the salary structure for legislative employees.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, disclosed the approval in a statement, explaining that the arrangement would cover eligible personnel in the state legislature and its service commission.

The government said the approval reflected Otti’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare, promoting fairness and strengthening democratic institutions.

CONLESS is a specialised remuneration framework designed for employees of legislative institutions, including the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and their respective service commissions.

Unlike the general salary arrangements applicable to many public servants, the structure recognises the distinct administrative and operational responsibilities of legislative workers.

These employees provide essential services that support parliamentary proceedings, legislative administration, committee activities, record-keeping and other institutional functions.

The Abia government’s decision comes against the backdrop of longstanding demands by parliamentary workers across Nigeria for improved remuneration and the full implementation of legislative salary structures.

In November 2025, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) issued a nationwide strike notice over delays by state governments in implementing financial autonomy for state legislatures and adopting CONLESS.

The association argued that the failure to implement the approved arrangements had contributed to disparities in the treatment of legislative employees across the country.

The agitation also relates to constitutional provisions on legislative financial autonomy.

Section 121(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, as amended, provides for funds allocated to state Houses of Assembly to be paid directly to the legislature. The provision is intended to strengthen the financial independence of state legislatures.

Against this background, Abia’s latest approval represents a development in the ongoing push to improve the working conditions and institutional independence of parliamentary employees.

However, the government has not released a detailed breakdown of the approved salary structure, the number of workers expected to benefit or the total financial implications of the implementation.

It also remains unclear whether the 25 per cent approval represents a uniform adjustment across all eligible salary grades or a specified implementation component of the wider CONLESS framework.

The distinction will be important in determining the actual financial benefit workers will receive when the new arrangement takes effect.

The January 2027 commencement date gives the relevant authorities time to prepare the necessary implementation guidelines and administrative arrangements.

For eligible legislative employees, the approval is expected to provide additional financial support amid rising living costs and continuing concerns about public-sector remuneration.

The development also places Abia among the states seeking to address longstanding welfare concerns within their legislative institutions.

While the announcement marks an important policy decision, its practical impact will depend on consistent implementation, transparent eligibility criteria and the timely release of the approved funds.

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For now, the Otti administration has set January 2027 as the starting point for the new remuneration arrangement, with further details expected to clarify the precise benefits for affected workers.