The House of Representatives has summoned MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and other telecommunications operators to explain persistent poor network services across the country, warning that their chief executives could face arrest summons if they fail to appear.
The operators are expected to appear before the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating telecommunications service quality on October 28, 2026, at 2pm.
The directive was issued on Wednesday, October 21, during a public hearing in Abuja, following the failure of some invited companies, including MTN and Mafab Communications, to honour previous invitations.
The committee, chaired by Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun), reached the decision after adopting two motions sponsored by lawmakers Sunday Umeha and Afam Ogene.
The committee directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that “all affected operators appear before it at 2pm on October 28 in Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.”
It also ordered the companies to submit “relevant documents ahead of the hearing and explain the persistent decline in service quality, which has continued to frustrate subscribers and disrupt businesses.”
Speaking at the hearing, Osoba said telecommunications services had become essential to Nigeria’s economy, supporting voice calls, internet access, financial transactions and other commercial activities, including Point of Sale (POS) operations.
He said “the growing dependence of businesses, financial transactions and other essential services on telecommunications networks make the persistent service disruptions a matter of serious national concern.”
Osoba explained that the committee was established to investigate recurring complaints from subscribers and identify the factors responsible for poor service delivery.
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He criticised operators whose executives had failed to engage directly with the lawmakers, saying some companies had offered excuses or sent lower-ranking officials to represent them.
The chairman maintained that the chief executives must attend personally because “they are better placed to explain their companies’ operational challenges, service delivery obligations and plans to address subscribers’ complaints.”
Also speaking, Abia lawmaker Ibe Osonwa accused the operators of showing disregard for the House despite generating substantial revenue from their Nigerian operations.
He said companies benefiting from the Nigerian market should not ignore legislative invitations, particularly when the investigation concerns services affecting millions of subscribers and businesses.
Osonwa stressed that telecommunications operators had “a responsibility to account for the quality of services they provide” and warned that the House would not overlook attempts to frustrate its investigation.
Osoba subsequently urged the NCC to ensure that all affected companies comply with the directive and attend the hearing with the required documents.
The investigation comes amid widespread complaints about dropped calls, unstable internet connections, slow data speeds and poor network coverage, which continue to affect businesses, banking transactions and access to digital services.