Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has identified lack of data base as a major impediment to the collection of appropriate taxes by governments a all levels in Nigeria.

The governor while receiving the Team Seven of Senior Course 36 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Ibadan on Tuesday, said that no government could deliver on its promises to the people without good revenue generation. He however, expressed regret that lack of good data base had made it extremely difficult for governments to generate appropriate revenue.

``One major problem which has militated against tax collection is lack of robust demographic data which would have provided necessary information about people's real income to allow for payment of appropriate taxes,'' he said.

The governor also called for a change in the culture of impunity, lack of willingness to pay tax and the attitude of people trying to get virtually everything for free. ``Most of our people want government to provide good services but they don't like paying for them, whereas no government can function without taxes,'' he said. Ajimobi, however, stressed the need for the empowerment of people so that there would not be problem of paying taxes as at when due.

He said that his administration had been centred on accountability and transparency, adding that opportunities were being provided for the people of the state, particularly traders and youths to earn a living through empowerment. The governor said that a total sum of N1 billion had been set aside by his government to empower traders and artisans in the state, out of which he said that N300 million had so far been distributed to the beneficiaries as interest-free loans.

 Ajimobi, who said that his wanted to be remembered as the father of modern Oyo State, promised that his administration would do everything possible to touch on all sectors of the economy and turn them around for the socio-economic growth of the state. Speaking earlier, the Leader of Team, Brig.-Gen. Olubuinmi Oyebade said that his team was in Oyo State to familiarize themselves with the socio-economic issues peculiar to the state as part of the requirements for their programme.