The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) has expressed worry about the rise in the prices of petroleum products in the country, disclosing that workers’ expectations of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime are “very low.”

The association’s President, Muhammad Yunusa, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Yunusa spoke on the expectations of the labour unions on the sidelines of activities to mark the 2021 Workers’ Day.

He explained, “We are also aware of the huge economic losses globally occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy is down. The indices of development are down, and our expectations are very low.

“We are particularly worried about the continuous increase in the cost of petroleum products, we are also worried about electricity tariff, and we are very worried about job losses.

Mr Yunusa added, “We are not happy with the casualisation of workers. I mean, workers are not getting permanent employment in all sectors of the workforce across the board,” he said.

According to Mr Yunusa, the government has continued to talk about the creation of employment to address some of these challenges, yet there are gaps to be filled.

“Look, for example, at the Nigerian worker today with the little money received to take care of over 20 or 30 people depending on what small money he earns, and there is now general poverty in the land,” explained Mr Yunusa.

He added, “The man, who has not seen N2,000 in three months if you give him N50,000 to go and kill people, he will do it.

“We have been saying that the government has to reduce poverty as a way of fighting insecurity.”

(NAN)