Fresh Hands for Cross River’s Newspaper Corporation as Otu Approves 25 Jobs

Governor also clears 30 temporary workers to start up new Printing Press

The Cross River State Newspaper Corporation — home to the Nigerian Chronicle and Weekend Chronicle — is set for a workforce boost after Governor Bassey Edet Otu approved the recruitment of 25 additional staff.

Speaking to journalists in Calabar, Commissioner for Information Dr. Erasmus Ekpang linked the approval to the recently completed overhaul of the Corporation’s facilities, buildings that date back to 1971. He was careful to note that the actual hiring will proceed through the Cross River State Civil Service Commission, in keeping with the body’s mandate over civil and public service employment across the state. Dr. Ekpang added that the Corporation has been operating with barely ten members of staff, underlining just how urgently the reinforcement is needed.

He framed the building renovation as symbolic of a broader renewal for the state-run media organization, one that would help it better showcase Cross River’s culture and strengthen its credibility as an information source. Thanking the Governor for his continued support, the Commissioner said the new employees would give the Corporation’s publications the manpower boost they have long needed.

In a related announcement, Dr. Ekpang revealed that the Governor has also approved 30 ad-hoc workers to kick off activities at the Corporation’s newly built Government Printing Press, which is expected to be formally unveiled soon. He said the press is intended to improve efficiency, ramp up output, and generate additional revenue for the state, all while keeping publication schedules on track. Those hired for the press will serve a three-month trial period, with the possibility of permanent absorption into the civil service afterward.

The announcement has drawn praise from stakeholders in the media industry, who view it as evidence of a government serious about rebuilding public institutions. Observers point out that the move fits a wider pattern under Otu’s leadership — infrastructure, education, and healthcare have all seen similar attention — reflecting a governance style rooted in inclusiveness and progress.

As the incoming staff prepare to settle in and the printing press readies for launch, the Newspaper Corporation appears set to regain its footing as a serious player in Nigerian media, further backing the Governor’s pledge that every part of the state matters.