Those saying that the action of President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Yemi Osibanjo to cut their salaries by 50 per cent is mere tokenism, as the President and his deputy do not live on their salaries, are missing the point. Little things count.

In the quest to rid Nigeria of profligacy and corruption, little steps count. Imagine what it will be like if 36 state governors, 109 senators, almost 400 House of Representatives members, commissioners, local government chairmen and councilors also slash their salaries by 50 per cent?

And if this is also followed up by a 50 per cent slash in running costs from the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly, Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as all the 36 State Houses? We would have succeeded in reducing recurrent expenditure greatly and the pass-on to capital vote for infrastructure would be a big welcome. Let’s also imagine what it will mean if we can reduce incidences of kick-backs and over-invoicing for infrastructure projects? We will have better project efficiency and the saved monies can be spent on things like hospitals, social welfare and will also boost restructuring and rehabilitation efforts in insurgency-torn areas in Nigeria.

Let’s keep demanding and commending little gestures because an ocean is made from little drops of water.

Kudos to President Buhari for this gesture. We are expecting the open asset declaration and are looking forward to more symbolic gestures which will show to all that the era of prudence has come. I support this move.

Bolaji Okusaga,

Ikeja GRA, Lagos State
http://www.punchng.com/opinion/letters/mr-presidents-salary-cut/

Good attempt