European Union Denies Knowledge Of Arrangement For 4,000 Jobs Promised By Imo State Governor.

By Caroline Ameh

The European Union (EU) has disclaimed any knowledge of an arrangement to provide 4,000 jobs for Imo state indigenes, as previously pledged by Governor Hope Uzodinma. The Governor had made this commitment during a vote mobilization tour ahead of the November 11 governorship election.

Governor Uzodinma had asserted that his administration had successfully negotiated an agreement with the EU and Canadian companies to create employment opportunities for Imo state citizens, even offering to cover the flight expenses for beneficiaries.

However, Reportera, an investigative news outlet, reached out to the European Union to verify this claim. When contacted, the European External Action Service (EEAS) representative stated that such an arrangement was not within the purview of the EU’s responsibilities.

The EU primarily focuses on monitoring the operations of companies within its member countries and does not engage in direct employment negotiations. The representative emphasized that if any employment agreement existed, it would be the responsibility of the involved companies to negotiate terms with job seekers or partners, as such arrangements fall under the private sector.

The EU further expressed skepticism about the authenticity of Governor Uzodinma’s claim, asserting that partnerships of this scale would require close monitoring by the EU, and as far as they were concerned, no such arrangement had been brought to their attention.

Correspondence with the Europe Direct Contact Centre via EuropeDirectContactCentre@edcc.ec.europa.eu echoed the representative’s position, reinforcing doubts about the validity of the job provision promise.

As of the time of this report, there has been no response from the Canadian Government regarding the matter.