NUJ wades into Chronicle saga, demands journalist as GM

By Frank Ulom

Amidst the internal crisis brewing in the Nigerian Chronical Newspaper Corporation, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Cross River State Council, has demanded the appointment of a seasoned journalist as the General Manager of the news outlet.

Converseer learned that the recent appointment of Ms Edet Keyu (allegedly without journalistic training) as the GM of the paper has raised eyebrows from all corners, especially those who have seen it endure the taste of time.

In a statement on Monday, the NUJ said despite being one of the enduring state-owned newspapers in Nigeria, it was journalists that have been holding the four pillars of the corporation.

The press statement signed by Comrade Nsa Gill, NUJ Chairman, Cross River Council, said there is a need for an editorial staff to be appointed as the General Manager of Chronicle as the paper is currently short of staff.

“The Nigerian Chronicle group of newspapers has passed through ups and downs in her glorious history that is now beleaguered.

“It is the major print media organ of the Cross River State Government. Gone are the good old days when the Nigerian Chronicle was standing shoulders high with national dailies in vendors’ spots in Lagos and across other major cities in the country

“Today the Newspaper is limited but still survives only by the good works of Journalists who sacrifice their know-how to publish the newspaper weekly or once in two weeks.

“More so, the Newspaper corporation is short-staffed as many have retired from service.

“There is need for editorial staff to be employed same as the need to fill the position of a General Manager,” the statement read.

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It added, “The appointment of a General Manager has not come till now we presumed the Governor was working on an idea that would bring a new lease of life to the establishment.

“However, indications are that some vested interests inimical to the establishment are up to some mischief.

“As a Union, the NUJ has been inundated with recent unpleasant developments in the state of affairs in the Newspaper Corporation, where a retired Admin staff without editorial depth is surreptitiously brought back to serve as General Manager.

“Our grouse is that the person in question, Ms Edet Keyu does not have any journalism training nor experience.

“We suspect the Governor may have been misinformed and ill-advised to approve the appointment of a none media practitioner as the GM of the Newspaper Corporation; a reputable and the one and only state print media organ.

“We stand by our pledge to support the Governor to achieve his goals and vision enwrapped in his people first governance mantra but strongly appeal that he should reconsider the purported appointment of Ms Edet Keyu which is unacceptable to the Union. She lacks the editorial depth to be given the position of a General Manager of the tottering Chronicle Newspapers

“We are not fronting any particular individual as we are very much aware that this is the Governor’s prerogative but rather we appeal that the position be given to a media practitioner, who is professionally equipped to defend the editorial position of the publication at all times.”

Converseer reports that the Nigerian Chronicle was established in the 1970s and publishes the Weekly and Sunday issues.

In 2020, the corporation was vandalised by hoodlum who hijacked the October 20 nationwide #ENDSARS protest.