European Union (EU) Counterpart Projects and Low-income Workers’ Wellbeing in Cross River State, Nigeria.

The study examined European Union counterpart projects and low-income workers’ wellbeing in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study specifically identified water supply, educational infrastructure, and employment creation activities as relating to wellbeing. Three null hypotheses were formulated based on the identified variables. The study was sustained on human capital and participatory developmental approach. The research design adopted was survey. Data for testing the hypotheses were generated using both qualitative and quantitative instruments. Data were collected from 495 respondents through multi-stage sampling techniques from five local government areas in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State. The generated data were statistically tested using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient. Results arrived at revealed that European Union counterpart projects in the area of provision of borehole to boost water supply significantly enhance the low-income workers’ wellbeing through safe drinking water. Secondly, educational infrastructural projects significantly enhance low-income workers’ wellbeing through improved literacy. Thirdly, income generating opportunity significantly enhance low-income workers’ wellbeing through self-employment. It was concluded that European Union counterpart projects are significant predictors to enhancing low-income workers’ wellbeing in terms of improved literacy, safe-drinking water, and self-employment. The study recommended among others that European Union water projects and infrastructural development programmes should be extended to cover more communities in the Senatorial District.

Keywords: European Union, Counterpart projects, low-income workers, wellbeing.