Senior citizens under the aegis of Association of Nigeria Universities Alumni (ANUA) yesterday declared their readiness to mediate between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government, to end the eight-month strike.
The association said it has resolved to ensure that unemployed graduates are registered, to secure social security allowance for them from the Federal Government.
The newly-elected Chairman of the group, Dr. Stephen Fasakin, said at the national convention of the association in Imo State University, Owerri that one of his mandates was to unify the alumni associations of the universities under one umbrella.
He said: “Under my leadership, we shall embark on the creation of a website where every unemployed graduate shall be registered. We shall pursue a bill for the payment of social security allowance to the unemployed graduates, to be taken by the National Assembly
“Under my watch, we shall encourage graduates to be more interested in politics so that we can salvage this country from the greedy office holders. Graduates must take over the position of leadership and responsibilities. We shall facilitate a better serving condition for corps members.
“One area where university growth has suffered is the area of alumni associations’ collaboration. We shall not close our eyes to that. On that note we shall take a bold step in resolving this current conflict between the government and ASUU so that universities will resume.”
The chairman urged members to be committed to the association, saying: “The association shall be committed to you too.”