By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About 7,000 tradesmen and artisans captured in Ona Ara local government area of Oyo State have given biometric identity cards.
The biometric data capturing of informal sector operatives was initiated by the administration of Mr Abiola Ajimobi to enable the state government have a unified identity for all tradesmen and artisans in the state and create a database for proper planning and ensure compliance to tax payment.
At the inauguration of the project last September, the Governor said the initiative plans to capture about 440,000 tradesmen and artisans in the state.
At the presentation of the cards to owners last week, Mr Ajimobi, represented by his Special Assistant on Trade Matters, Mrs Kunbi James, stated that, “When the government is giving out a lot of things, it is easy for the government to locate every trader, artisan, know what goods they sell, have their phone number.”
“We intend to have a directory of traders across the local governments, for them to be easily located by willing buyers. They can also use the card anywhere for bank verification. They only have to pay a token of about N1,500 for all the processes,” he said further.
Also speaking at the event held at Shamsu Su’ud Central Mosque, Orita-Aperin, Ibadan, Chairman of National Trader Youth Action Council International (NYTACI), Oyo State, Mr Najeemdeen Abdulazeez, said his group would assist government mobilise members to key into the system.
Adedapo Adesanya