Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved the implementation of a 25 per cent adjustment under 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, which takes effect from January 2027, followed a recommendation by the Committee on CONLESS.

With the decision, Abia State becomes the first state in the South-East geopolitical zone to implement the salary structure for its parliamentary workers.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, and made available to journalists in Umuahia.

CONLESS is the consolidated salary structure applicable to legislative staff in the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and their respective service commissions.

Its implementation has remained outstanding in several states despite demands by parliamentary workers for the adoption of the structure.

The governor’s approval covers eligible employees of the Abia State House of Assembly and the state Assembly Service Commission.

The 25 per cent adjustment is expected to improve the remuneration of the affected workers when implementation begins in January 2027.

The state government said the approval reflects Otti’s commitment to workers’ welfare, fairness and the strengthening of democratic institutions in Abia State.

The decision comes amid broader efforts by state governments to address workers’ welfare and improve conditions of service across public institutions.

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