The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has lamented the absence of palliatives more than two months after the removal of petrol subsidy.

Michael Adebola, the NASU FCT council chairman, at the election of the council on Monday in Abuja, noted the unending upward adjustment in the pump prices of petrol from N540 to over N617 per litre.

He decried the high cost of transportation and commodities following the subsidy removal and urged the current administration to implement policies to cushion its effect on members.

“We demand that the government should work on policies that can alleviate the suffering of the masses through well-packaged palliatives.

“Also, they have to improve the salary structure, and our refineries should be refurbished and be put to good use,” he said.

On the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) as a salary payment system, he noted that the platform was ineffective.

“The IPPIS, which would have been a good system for union dues remittance, is ineffective and full of fraudulent activities. There are lots of irregularities and short payments of union dues,” he said.

Hassan Makolo, national president of NASU, commended the giant stride the out-gone exco recorded and cautioned state governments against reducing the number of work days.

Mr Makolo said the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had prescribed five work days weekly and eight hours per day.

“It says any practice that is contrary to the specifications of the ILO is likely going to affect national productivity adversely,” he said.

NASU president, however, faulted the issue of working from home, adding that there is no infrastructure to make that happen now, especially with low broadband penetration and epileptic power supply.

Mr Makolo urged the federal government to introduce palliatives to ensure cheaper transportation to and from work rather than contemplate reducing the number of work days.

“Why can’t the government get buses that can take workers to their workplaces free of any charges to and back?

“So, the manpower that will be lost staying at home can translate that into productivity,” he added.

On additional N10,000 to workers’ salaries which some state governments have begun to implement, Mr Makolo said it was wrong.

“What does N10,000 do to help workers in the present circumstances? I do not like discussing states because the majority of the state governments are not even implementing N30,000 minimum wage as a national law,” he said.

Also, Hussaini Ibrahim, the director general of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), urged labour leaders to stand on the cusp of a remarkable juncture.

(NAN)