65 Independence: MWUN President General charges FG to stabilize costs of living

As Nigerians mark the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, 1st October, 2025, the President-General of Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, has charged the Federal Government to expedite action and efforts towards stabilizing high living conditions of Nigerians, whose minimum wage has become mere abstract imagination.

Comrade Francis Bunu Abi said the minimum wage is not in conformity with the reality on ground of the living standard of Nigerians, which has become daily apprehension of every household and the open-ended worry of the common masses.

This saddening situation, Bunu said, is not only reflecting on the people’s mentality but also deteriorating their health every day as they go about their lives; hence, the call for immediate attention of the government to come to the people’s social intervention.

The foremost Maritime Labour leader stated this in a message congratulating Nigerians on the anniversary, saying that today is very significant in the historical lives of Nigerians since Nigeria attained independence as a country.

He said Nigeria has staggered severally and risen severally as an independent nation over the years with various governments in power, giving so much promises, aspirations and hope a better tomorrow to the citizens.

“Nigeria, no doubt, is regarded as the center-piece and the giant of the African continent, and has been able to sustain her democratic space with relative peace within the country after her democracy founded its root in 1999.

“First, as Nigerians we must be thankful for this relative political peace and atmosphere, which has held us bound as one people and one nation from successive governments till today, we are celebrating the country in 2025 for the 65th time in our political history.

“Nigerians, both young and old, deserve a better Nigeria they could call their own with pride and dignity, whether at home or in the diaspora, because Nigeria is a country globally known and recognized for where milk and honey flow. Therefore, Nigerians deserve better, with even her population of about 250 million people.

“Today, Nigerians are still known to be a third world country where the citizenry still cry for bread in the midst of plenty, in spite of having God’s given numerous natural mineral resources across the nooks and crannies of the country.”

The labour astute administrator and veteran seafarer noted with optimism that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCON and Commander- In- Chief of the Armed Forces; has already placed the country on the right path, believing that his Renewed Hope mantra and other worthwhile reforms that are ongoing will definitely yield the expected dividends of his government and bring to bear the much yearnings of the people in the shortest period of time as we approach the year 2026.

Comrade Bunu encouraged Nigerians to believe in this government as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for the country, having promised with great determination to deliver on his political manifesto to all and sundry in Nigeria.

“President Bola is not unaware of the serious hardship the citizens are going through on daily basis; hence he is not relenting to rescue Nigerians from their current living burden.

“As a nation, we must pray for the President, especially at this trying periods of insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and terrorists, who have taken advantage of vulnerability of the people and have ravaged their communities and farmlands, maiming, setting homes ablaze, raping old and young women and taking them into captivity for forced marriages and the purpose of taking ransom and making lives unbearable and difficult for the downtrodden and other majority of Nigerians across board,” said he.

He urged Nigerians to pray to seek the face of the Almighty God for our Armed forces, who have been overstretched in their gallant efforts in securing the nation and battling the vices bedeviling the country’s progress, peace and unity.

He, however, assured of a better country under this administration and urged Nigerians to persevere, noting that the high cost of living, high rate of unemployment, hunger and insecurity in the land would soon be a thing of the past.

The PG of MWUN, Bunu, asked Nigerians to celebrate today with hope of a better tomorrow, reminding Nigerians that the country is on course of reclaiming her glory with very strong obsession, given the fighting of impediments trying to stop the country’s efforts from repositioning her ground on the continent.

Comrade Bunu reiterated that Nigerians do not have another country other than Nigeria, “therefore, we must all join hands together to salvaging her development and rise, so that in unison, we will build a better society for all of us, where we would enjoy our prosperity together in oneness.”