Experts have called on the government to reduce the personal income tax of Nigerians in order to increase their purchasing power. The acting Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Ambrose Oruche while responding to the new inflation figures published by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday said the rise in inflation in May was expected due to an increase in the Consumer Price Index. He recalled that the Federal Government introduced the gradual easing of lockdown in May, adding that the restriction in interstate movement had triggered price hike by wholesalers. Oruche said manufacturers had not increased the prices of their commodities. He said there was a spike in Consumer Price Index, which was as a result of restriction to movement, panic buying and hoarding of essential commodities by some sellers. According to him, whenever there is inflation, it is the salary earners that bear the brunt. He said inflation rate would continue to rise due to the state of the business environment despite the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria to curtail it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices