Banks have hailed women in the industry and others across different sectors of the country.

The banks shared their messages on their official X handle on Friday to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD) usually celebrated annually on March 8.

Access Bank Plc on its X honoured Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), for being an advocate of women’s empowerment and global trade reforms.

The bank said her career defined resilience, excellence and leadership.

”In celebration of International Women’s Day, we honour @NOIweala, a trailblazer whose career defines resilience, excellence, and leadership.

”She served two terms as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, driving impactful economic reforms that shaped the nation’s financial landscape.

”Today, she continues to break boundaries as the first woman and first African to serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, influencing global trade and economic policies at the highest level.

”At Access, we celebrate women and invest in their power to shape the future. We choose to accelerate action, ensuring that every woman has the right tools, the voice, and the opportunity to lead,” the bank said.

First Bank Nigeria wrote on its X ‘to Accelerate Action is to move from vision to reality and from Promise to Progress.

”Together, we take our promises further and step-up to champion the cause of empowering women in our communities,” the bank said.

UBA Group wrote on its official X that the resilience, strength, and brilliance of women had continued to transform the world against the odds.

”Women are the architects of progress, breaking barriers, shaping industries, and inspiring generations.

”This International Women’s Day, join us for an empowering conversation on the impact of women who rise beyond challenges and redefine success,” it said.

Fidelity Bank said: ”Women! Its about time to accelerate action and we can’t wait to unveil what we have planned for you!

”Anticipate something special this Saturday,” the bank said.

Similarly, Dr Adaora Umeoji, the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, wrote on the bank’s X ”Empowered women lead, inspire and transform the world.

”Successful women are those who challenge the norm,”she said.

Dr Adobi Nwapa, the Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc wrote in the bank’s X: ‘a future of inclusion begins today with bold women leading the way,” she said.

The theme of this year’s IWD is “Accelerate Action: For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment. (NAN)

President Bola Tinubu has appointed six Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for federal government-owned hospitals in Akure, Gombe, Azare, Lafiya, Maiduguri and Kafanchan.

Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, in a statement on Friday, said the newly appointed CMDs and their hospitals are: Prof.

“Prof. Yusuf Abdullahi has been reappointed as the CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, following an outstanding performance during his first term. His reappointment underscores his exceptional leadership and contributions to the hospital’s growth.

“Dr Dauda Katagum, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State, has been confirmed as the substantive CMD,” said the statement.

It added that Dr Ikrama Hassan was appointed as the Chief Medical Director of the newly upgraded Federal Teaching Hospital in Lafiya, Nasarawa State.

A consultant physician, Hassan previously served as the Medical Director of the Dalhatu Ibrahim Arab Specialist Hospital before its elevation to a teaching hospital.

Similarly, Dr Ali Ramat, a Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon, was appointed Chief Medical Director of the newly established National Orthopedic Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno.

The President also approved the appointment of Dr Haruna Shehu, a Consultant Family Physician, as Chief Medical Director of the newly established Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.

“All appointments are for four years, effective from the respective dates of assumption of office.

Abdullahi’s second and final term as CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, commenced on Sept. 5, 2024.

Also, Katagum’s tenure as CMD of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State, took effect from Dec. 6, 2024.

Tinubu congratulated the newly appointed and reappointed Chief Medical Directors, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and service delivery in their respective roles.

He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring all Nigerians had access to quality medical services. (NAN)

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF),has clarified that there are no shortfalls in salaries paid to federal workers in January and February.

The OAGF made the clarification in a statement issued by Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations on Friday in Abuja.

Mokwa said that the salaries that workers received in January and February were their normal salaries after the various arrears that were paid from October to December 2024 had been exhausted.

He said that it was imperative to make clarifications on the purported shortfall in January and February salaries in order to ease any anxiety in the minds of workers.

According to him, various salary arrears have been paid in the last quarter of 2024, namely, minimum wage arrears, 25 per cent/35 per cent increase in salary arrears, and wage award arrears.

“All these arrears were paid from the month of October 2024 to December 2024. This made salaries to increase abnormally in the last quarter of 2024.

“Payment of normal salaries after exhausting the various arrears began in January 2025, which made some workers think that they were shortchanged, when in actual sense, it was their real salaries ” he said.

He said that what was paid in January and February 2025 shall continue to be the salaries until when the Federal Government reviews the salaries again.

The director said that there were cases of overpayments in the month of December 2024 due to system error.

“The error has been corrected and deductions in respect of the overpayments from the salaries of affected workers is on-going and shall continue until such overpayments were fully recovered,” he said.

On the payment of promotion arrears, Mokwa said that the exercise was handled by a standing committee on promotion and salary arrears in the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF).

According to him, the BOF compiles and vets all salary and promotion arrears from various MDAs before such is channeled in batches to IPPIS for payment.

He said that IPPIS had fully paid batches 1 to 6 and was awaiting more batches from the BOF for payment.

Mokwa reiterated the determination of the OAGF to efficiently manage the IPPIS in view of its importance to workers.

He advised workers with genuine complaints about their salaries to follow the formal processes to get such resolved as quickly as possible.(NAN)