COEASU Gives Fresh Update on CATA Salary Increase, Says Payment Nears
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has assured its members that the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) salary increase is progressing steadily, urging lecturers across federal colleges of education to remain calm as the process enters its final phase.
In a circular dated July 24, 2026, and signed by the union’s General Secretary, Dr. Churchill Chukwunonso Okonkwo, the COEASU National Secretariat said the salary adjustment remains on course, with the Federal Government currently completing the final administrative procedures required for payment.
According to the union, the CATA agreement, which was formally signed in April, marked a significant milestone in its collective bargaining efforts. However, it explained that the signing of the agreement was only the beginning of a series of administrative processes needed before the new salary structure could be reflected in members’ pay.
COEASU disclosed that immediately after the agreement was signed, its leadership intensified engagements with relevant government agencies to ensure seamless implementation.
The union said its Renegotiation Committee formally communicated with the Minister of Education, who subsequently directed the appropriate department in the ministry to prepare a memorandum on the implementation of the agreement.
Following the directive, the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) prepared the salary tables for the new structure and forwarded them to the Budget Office for assessment of the financial implications of the proposed salary increase.
COEASU added that it had consistently kept its National Executive Council (NEC) informed of every stage of the implementation process.
Providing an update on the current status, the union stated that the final phase involves the submission of the budget to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for approval and release of funds.
It explained that once the funds are released, payment will be processed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and subsequently disbursed to the payroll platforms of the affected colleges.
The union expressed optimism that the process would soon be concluded, stressing that there had been no indication that the government had abandoned the agreement.
COEASU therefore appealed to its members to remain patient and united, assuring them that the national leadership remains committed to ensuring the full implementation of the CATA salary increase without unnecessary delay.
The union also promised to provide further updates as soon as the remaining approvals are secured.
