A House of Representatives committee has summoned the chief executive officers (CEOs) of major telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria over poor network quality across the country.
The ad hoc committee investigating poor telecom services issued the summons on Wednesday, directing the heads of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), Mafab Communications Limited and other service providers to appear before it on October 28.
The panel passed the resolution after lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the alleged failure of the chief executives to honour earlier invitations.
The committee directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the CEOs comply with the summons.
The lawmakers asked the service providers to explain the persistent decline in service quality, which has disrupted communication and commercial activities for millions of subscribers and businesses nationwide.
The committee threatened to issue arrest warrants to compel chief executives who failed to appear.
Olumide Osoba, the committee chairman, said telecommunications plays a significant role in Nigeria’s economy, noting that the sector has evolved beyond voice calls and internet connectivity to become integral to essential commercial transactions, including point-of-sale (POS) payments.
He said businesses, financial services and other critical economic activities rely heavily on stable telecommunications networks, adding that deteriorating service delivery is a national concern.
Osoba explained that the committee was set up to investigate the numerous subscriber complaints and uncover the underlying causes of the substandard services.
Ibe Osonwa, a lawmaker from Abia State, said the CEOs’ failure to appear before the committee showed disregard for parliament.
Osonwa said companies that benefit significantly from the Nigerian market could not reasonably ignore invitations from the legislature, especially when the inquiry concerned the quality of services they provide to customers and the broader economy.
On Tuesday, the NCC said 75 million subscribers had received airtime compensation for poor telecom services in 2026.
The regulator said the intervention, under the consumer compensation framework, was expected to translate into better connectivity for consumers.
