The House of Representatives has threatened telecommunications operators with further legislative action after giving them seven days to appear before its ad hoc committee investigating the persistent decline in network quality across Nigeria.
The affected operators include MTN Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications Ltd and other telecommunications companies summoned to explain the challenges facing subscribers nationwide.
The committee issued the ultimatum following the operators’ failure to honour previous invitations, prompting lawmakers to direct the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure compliance with the latest summons.
Chairman of the committee, Olumide Osoba, expressed displeasure over the repeated failure of the companies’ chief executives to appear before the panel, accusing them of avoiding direct engagement with lawmakers.
He raised concerns that some operators had offered various excuses for their absence or sent lower-ranking officials to represent them during the investigative process.
Osoba stressed that the investigation was necessary to address growing complaints from telecommunications subscribers and establish the factors responsible for the declining quality of services.
He noted that reliable telecommunications services had become essential to Nigeria’s economy, with millions of individuals and businesses depending on mobile networks for daily operations.
According to him, telecommunications services now extend beyond voice calls and internet access to critical economic activities, including Point of Sale (POS) transactions, financial services and commercial operations.
The lawmaker warned that persistent network failures could disrupt business activities and affect the delivery of essential services, making the situation a matter of national concern.
He explained that the House constituted the ad hoc committee to investigate recurring complaints from subscribers, examine the challenges confronting the industry and determine the causes of the poor services.
The committee’s latest directive places renewed pressure on telecommunications operators to explain their performance and address concerns over service delivery.
Osoba maintained that the operators must respond to the lawmakers’ concerns, while the NCC is expected to ensure that the affected companies comply with the seven-day ultimatum.
The investigation comes amid continuing concerns among telecommunications subscribers over unreliable network connections and the impact of poor service quality on businesses and everyday communication across the country.
