The House of Representatives has directed the chief executives of major telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria to appear before a parliamentary committee over persistent complaints about poor network services.
The lawmakers gave the operators until October 28, 2026, to explain the declining quality of telecommunications services and provide documents relevant to an ongoing investigation.
The directive affects major operators, including MTN Nigeria, Globacom, Airtel Nigeria and Mafab Communications, alongside other service providers invited by the committee.
Reps Issue Deadline to Telecom CEOs
The decision was reached during a public hearing held in Abuja on Wednesday by the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating poor quality of service and customer experience in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the committee adopted motions presented by lawmakers Sunday Umeha, representing Enugu, and Afam Ogene, representing Anambra.
The motions followed the failure of some invited telecommunications executives to attend earlier committee proceedings.
Lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction that senior company officials had repeatedly failed to appear personally to answer questions about the services their organisations provide.
The committee subsequently fixed October 28 for the chief executives to appear at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
NCC Directed to Ensure Operators Attend Hearing
The committee asked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the affected telecommunications companies comply with the invitation.
It also directed the operators to submit relevant documents by October 28.
The lawmakers want explanations for recurring service disruptions and other problems affecting subscribers across Nigeria.
They warned that further failure to honour the committee’s invitation could lead to the use of parliamentary enforcement powers, including possible summons backed by arrest warrants where legally applicable.
No arrest warrant was reported to have been issued at the hearing.
Lawmakers Express Concern Over Poor Network Quality
Chairman of the committee, Representative Olumide Osoba of Ogun State, said worsening telecommunications services had become a serious concern for individuals and businesses.
He explained that reliable network connectivity was essential to many sectors of the economy, including financial transactions and point-of-sale operations.
According to Osoba, recurring network failures could disrupt payments, communication and other services that Nigerians depend on daily.
He said the House established the investigative committee to examine the causes of poor service quality and determine what actions were needed.
Telecom CEOs Accused of Avoiding Parliamentary Hearings
Osoba criticised what he described as repeated attempts by invited company executives to avoid appearing before the committee.
He alleged that some operators had offered excuses or sent junior officials to represent their organisations.
The lawmaker maintained that the committee expected senior executives capable of providing detailed explanations and taking responsibility for the issues under investigation.
He urged the telecommunications companies to treat the parliamentary inquiry seriously and cooperate with the lawmakers.
Reps Say Telecom Operators Must Be Accountable
Representative Ibe Osonwa, representing the Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, also expressed dissatisfaction with the operators’ response to the invitations.
He argued that companies earning revenue from Nigerian subscribers had an obligation to respond to legitimate questions from elected representatives.
According to him, refusing to engage with lawmakers investigating consumer complaints undermined public accountability.
Osonwa said telecommunications companies should be prepared to explain the challenges affecting their networks and the measures being taken to improve service delivery.
Why Poor Network Services Matter to Nigerians
Mobile connectivity plays an important role in everyday economic activities, from personal communication to business operations.
Banking applications, mobile transfers, POS terminals and digital services often depend on functioning telecommunications infrastructure.
Unreliable connectivity can therefore affect customers and businesses beyond the telecommunications sector itself.
The House committee said its investigation was intended to establish why subscribers continue to experience poor services and what operators are doing to address the complaints.
What Happens on October 28?
The committee expects the invited chief executives to appear at the National Assembly Complex on October 28 and submit the requested records.
The NCC has also been asked to support compliance with the directive.
The hearing could provide an opportunity for lawmakers to question operators about service quality, network investments and the challenges affecting telecommunications infrastructure.
However, the committee has not yet published findings establishing the precise causes of the reported service deterioration.
The lawmakers maintained that the investigation would continue until the relevant operators provided explanations about the quality of services delivered to Nigerian subscribers.
