The House of Representatives has given telecommunications operators seven days to appear before its ad hoc committee investigating the persistent poor quality of network services in Nigeria.
The committee issued the ultimatum at a public hearing in Abuja, directing the chief executive officers (CEOs) of the affected companies to appear on 28th October 2026, to explain the deteriorating quality of telecommunications services across the country.
The companies, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo) and Mafab Communications Ltd., are expected to appear before the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating the poor quality of telecommunications services on 28 October.
The resolution followed the adoption of two motions sponsored by Reps. Sunday Umeha and Afam Ogene after the committee expressed displeasure over the failure of invited operators to honour previous invitations.
The lawmakers directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that all affected operators appear before the committee at 2 p.m. on 28th October in Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
They also ordered the companies to submit relevant documents before the hearing and explain the persistent decline in service quality, which continues to affect millions of subscribers, businesses and other essential services.
The committee warned that any chief executive who failed to honour the invitation risked being summoned for arrest to compel their appearance.
Speaking at the hearing, the committee’s Chairman, Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun), said telecommunications services had become indispensable to Nigeria’s economy, supporting activities beyond voice calls and internet access, including Point of Sale (POS) transactions and other financial services.
He said the widespread dependence on telecommunications networks made the persistent complaints about poor service quality a matter of serious national concern.
Osoba explained that the House constituted the ad hoc committee to investigate recurring complaints by subscribers and determine the factors responsible for the poor services provided by telecommunications operators.
He, however, criticised the chief executives for allegedly avoiding direct engagement with the committee by offering excuses or sending lower-ranking officials to represent them.
The chairman maintained that the investigation required the personal appearance of the CEOs, who were better positioned to explain their companies’ operational challenges, service delivery commitments and efforts to address the persistent network problems.
Also speaking, Rep. Ibe Osonwa condemned what he described as the operators’ disregard for the House, despite the substantial revenue they generate from their Nigerian operations.
Osonwa said it was unacceptable for companies benefiting from the Nigerian market to ignore legislative invitations seeking explanations on issues affecting their customers and the wider economy.
He stressed that telecommunications operators had a responsibility to account for the quality of services delivered to subscribers, warning that the House would not tolerate attempts to frustrate its investigation.
In his ruling, Osoba directed the NCC to ensure full compliance with the committee’s resolution, insisting that the affected operators must appear on October 28 with the required documents and provide explanations for the persistent deterioration in network services.
The hearing is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to examine the challenges confronting the telecommunications sector and demand accountability from operators over the quality of services delivered to Nigerians.
