The House of Representatives has summoned the chief executive officers of major telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria over persistent poor network quality, warning that arrest warrants could be issued against those who fail to appear.
The ad hoc committee investigating deteriorating telecom services issued the summons on Wednesday, directing the heads of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications Limited and other service providers to appear before it on October 28.
The decision followed lawmakers’ displeasure over the alleged failure of the telecom executives to honour previous invitations.
The committee also directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the companies’ chief executives comply with the summons.
The lawmakers want the operators to explain the persistent decline in service quality, which has disrupted communication and commercial activities for millions of subscribers and businesses across the country.
Chairman of the committee, Olumide Osoba, said telecommunications had become critical to Nigeria’s economic activities, extending beyond voice calls and internet access to essential transactions, including point-of-sale payments.
He noted that businesses, financial institutions and other sectors depend heavily on reliable telecommunications networks, warning that poor service delivery had become a matter of national concern.
Osoba said the committee was established in response to mounting complaints from subscribers and to investigate the underlying causes of the persistent service failures.
A member of the committee, Ibe Osonwa, representing Abia State, criticised the executives’ failure to honour earlier invitations, describing their conduct as a disregard for the legislature.
Osonwa argued that companies benefiting significantly from the Nigerian market should not ignore parliamentary invitations, particularly when lawmakers are investigating the quality of services provided to millions of customers.
The development comes amid renewed concerns over telecommunications service delivery, despite regulatory efforts to address subscriber complaints.
On Tuesday, the NCC disclosed that 75 million subscribers had received airtime compensation for poor telecom services in 2026.
The regulator said the compensation initiative, implemented under its consumer compensation framework, was also expected to drive improvements in network connectivity and service quality.
However, the House committee is seeking further explanations from the operators over the continued complaints and the measures being taken to ensure reliable services nationwide.
