The House of Representatives has ordered the heads of MTN, Airtel, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other telecom companies to appear before a parliamentary committee on October 28 over worsening network services.
The executives are expected at 2 p.m. in Hearing Room 447 of the National Assembly’s New Building in Abuja. They must also provide documents and explain the causes of service disruptions affecting subscribers and businesses across Nigeria.
The directive followed a public hearing on Wednesday, where members of the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating telecom service quality considered motions moved by Reps. Sunday Umeha and Afam Ogene. Lawmakers said several operators, including MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications, had failed to attend earlier hearings.
The committee instructed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure the companies comply with the summons. It warned that executives who fail to attend could face arrest summonses.
Committee chairman Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun) said dependable telecommunications had become essential to the country’s economy. Network access, he noted, supports not only calls and internet use but also services such as Point of Sale transactions and other business activities.
Osoba said the inquiry was established in response to ongoing complaints from subscribers and aims to identify why service standards have declined. He criticised company leaders for not appearing in person, saying some had offered excuses or sent junior staff in their place.
The committee expects the chief executives to answer directly for their companies’ performance and outline steps to improve service, he said.
Rep. Ibe Osonwa also condemned the operators’ absence, arguing that companies earning revenue from Nigeria should respond to lawmakers’ questions about services that affect the public and the economy. He said the House would not allow the investigation to be undermined.
In closing, Osoba called on the NCC to secure the operators’ attendance and ensure they bring the requested records and explanations to the October 28 hearing.
For many subscribers, poor network service remains a daily frustration. I can only speak from my experience with MTN and AIRTEL, the providers I use, but their service has often been unreliable. Because my work depends heavily on the internet, I sometimes stay up late trying to meet my targets, only to lose time to slow or unavailable connections. At times, I have to switch off or restart my phone just to get a signal. These disruptions are frustrating and can significantly delay and slow down my work.
