The House of Representatives has directed telecommunications operators in Nigeria to appear before its ad hoc committee on or before November 4, 2026, to explain persistent network failures affecting subscribers across the country.
The lawmakers warned that chief executives who fail to honour the summons could face arrest warrants, stressing that the companies must take responsibility for the quality of services they provide to Nigerians.
The directive followed the rejection of a request by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to represent the affected companies through its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo.
The committee, chaired by Olumide Osoba, who represents the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, insisted that the chief executives and senior management officials must appear in person to address concerns about their respective networks.
The operators summoned include MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other licensed telecommunications companies.
The investigation comes amid widespread complaints from subscribers over dropped calls, slow internet speeds, failed airtime and data transactions, as well as inadequate network coverage in several communities.
Lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the operators’ reported attempt to appear collectively through their industry association, arguing that each company must independently account for its service delivery and regulatory obligations.
During deliberations, a member of the House, Sunday Umeha, argued that the operators held individual licences issued by the Federal Government and should not use their membership of an industry association to avoid appearing before the committee.
Umeha also faulted a letter reportedly written by ALTON questioning the committee’s authority to compel the companies to attend the hearing.
He maintained that appearing before the committee was a statutory obligation rather than a privilege granted to the legislature by the telecommunications companies.
Citing Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Umeha said the National Assembly had the authority to investigate matters within its legislative powers, including the implementation of government policies.
The committee maintained that the companies must appear individually unless it expressly approves any alternative arrangement.
The November 4 deadline gives the telecommunications operators an opportunity to explain the recurring service disruptions and respond to lawmakers’ concerns over the impact of poor network quality on subscribers nationwide.
