…give MTN, Airtel, Glo, others seven days to explain network failures
The House of Representatives has given telecommunications operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and Mafab Communications, seven days to explain persistent poor network services across the country, warning that their chief executives could face arrest summons if they fail to appear before lawmakers.
The House Ad Hoc Committee investigating the quality of telecommunications services issued the ultimatum at a public hearing in Abuja on Wednesday, directing the operators to appear before it on October 28.
The decision followed the failure of some operators, including MTN and Mafab Communications, to honour previous invitations by the committee.
The committee, chaired by Olumide Osoba, representing Ogun State, also directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the affected companies comply with the invitation and submit relevant documents ahead of the hearing.
The lawmakers directed the operators to appear at 2 pm at Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, to explain the persistent decline in service quality and the disruption it has caused subscribers and businesses.
The resolution followed the adoption of two motions sponsored by Sunday Umeha and Afam Ogene.
Speaking at the hearing, Osoba said the growing dependence of businesses and financial transactions on telecommunications networks had made the persistent service disruptions a matter of national concern.
He said telecommunications services had become indispensable to Nigeria’s economy, extending beyond voice calls and internet access to critical commercial activities, including Point of Sale transactions.
“The growing dependence of businesses, financial transactions and other essential services on telecommunications networks makes the persistent service disruptions a matter of serious national concern,” Osoba said.
He explained that the House constituted the ad hoc committee to investigate recurring complaints by subscribers and identify the factors responsible for the poor quality of services provided by operators.
The committee chairman expressed displeasure that some telecommunications executives had continued to avoid direct engagement with lawmakers by offering excuses or sending lower-ranking officials to represent them.
He insisted that the chief executives must appear personally to account for their companies’ performance and explain the measures being taken to address subscribers’ complaints.
Osoba said the executives “are better placed to explain their companies’ operational challenges, service delivery obligations and plans to address subscribers’ complaints.”
The lawmakers warned that any chief executive who failed to honour the invitation could be subjected to an arrest summons to compel their appearance before the committee.
Also speaking, Ibe Osonwa, a lawmaker from Abia State, criticised the operators for allegedly disregarding the House despite the substantial revenue they generate from their operations in Nigeria.
Osonwa said it was unacceptable for companies benefiting from the Nigerian market to ignore legislative invitations, particularly when the investigation concerned services affecting millions of customers and businesses.
He stressed that telecommunications operators had “a responsibility to account for the quality of services they provide,” warning that the House would not overlook attempts to frustrate its investigation.
Osoba subsequently urged the NCC to ensure that the operators complied with the committee’s directive and appeared with the necessary documents and explanations.
The investigation comes amid persistent complaints by subscribers over dropped calls, unstable internet connections, slow data speeds and poor network coverage in several parts of the country.
Poor telecommunications services have also disrupted business operations, online transactions and access to digital services, with network failures often resulting in lost time, revenue and productivity.
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The lawmakers are expected to question the operators on the causes of the recurring network problems, their investment in infrastructure, the measures being taken to improve service delivery and whether they are meeting their obligations to subscribers.
The committee’s intervention is part of renewed legislative scrutiny of the telecommunications sector, where complaints about service quality have continued despite regulatory measures aimed at improving operators’ performance.
In May, the House criticised the NCC over what lawmakers described as weak regulatory oversight, arguing that the commission had failed to ensure that operators delivered reliable services to subscribers.
The October 28 hearing is expected to provide the operators an opportunity to explain their operational challenges and outline concrete steps to address the persistent complaints.
The committee has directed the NCC to ensure that all affected operators honour the invitation.
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