The House of Representatives has threatened fresh sanctions against Nigeria’s major telecommunications operators after their chief executives failed to appear before its ad hoc committee investigating persistent poor network quality across the country.
The CEOs of MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Mafab Communications failed to honour the committee’s summons for the second consecutive week, prompting lawmakers to consider further action against the companies.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Telecommunications Service Quality, lawmakers maintained that ongoing court proceedings and disagreements over the legislature’s authority would not prevent the National Assembly from exercising its constitutional powers.
The committee had initially summoned the telecom operators to appear on October 28 and explain the persistent complaints about dropped calls, slow internet connections, failed airtime and data transactions, and poor network coverage in several communities.
However, the operators did not send their chief executives, arguing that the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, could represent the industry.
The House rejected that position, insisting that the operators hold separate licences and must individually account for the quality of services provided to their subscribers. They were subsequently directed to appear on November 4.
The dispute escalated when Adebayo appeared before the committee despite an earlier directive that ALTON was not invited to the proceedings.
Sunday Umeha, who represented the committee’s chairman, Olumide Osoba, ordered the association to leave, warning that its appearance was unauthorised.
“You are not invited. You are an intruder. This will be the last warning. On no account, except you are invited, should ALTON, under any guise whatsoever, appear before this committee again,” Umeha said.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, lawmakers also questioned whether the telecom operators had obtained a court order restraining the committee from continuing with its investigation.
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The confrontation follows objections by ALTON to the lawmakers’ authority to compel private telecommunications companies to account for their operational activities.
Adebayo had described the summons as raising “serious constitutional questions”, arguing that the House must operate within the limits of its investigative powers under the 1999 Constitution.
He said his appearance before lawmakers was intended to explain the industry’s concerns and clarify the constitutional issues surrounding the summons, rather than prevent individual operators from fulfilling their responsibilities.
The dispute centres partly on Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to conduct investigations for specific legislative purposes.
Adebayo questioned whether those provisions allow lawmakers to compel privately owned and regulated telecom companies to account for commercial and operational matters that fall within the statutory responsibilities of the sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission.
He also disclosed that ALTON had filed cases at the Federal High Court seeking judicial interpretation of the National Assembly’s oversight powers over telecommunications operators.
While acknowledging the importance of accountability and the industry’s willingness to cooperate with public institutions, the association argued that the House should complement the NCC’s regulatory responsibilities rather than duplicate them.
However, lawmakers have maintained that the constitutional powers of the National Assembly cannot be undermined by the existence of pending court cases.
The investigation comes amid sustained complaints from subscribers over deteriorating telecom services, with poor connectivity affecting calls, internet access and digital transactions.
At its 95th Telecom Consumers Parliament in Lagos, the NCC disclosed that more than 75 million subscribers had received compensation for poor service. It also said operators had carried out over 7,000 targeted network interventions in 2026.
The latest figures come as the regulator faces pressure to improve service delivery and ensure that operators address persistent network failures.
The House committee’s threat of fresh sanctions signals an escalation in the standoff, although the precise penalties being considered were not specified in the report.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
