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Reps Fault Telecom Regulator Over Declining Service Standards
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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has faulted the Nigerian Communications Commission, accusing it of weak oversight and holding it responsible for the continued poor quality of telecommunications services nationwide.
Lawmakers argued that the regulator has not done enough to enforce compliance with industry standards, allowing service providers to fall short in delivering dependable connectivity. They warned that unreliable networks could have serious consequences, particularly in emergency situations where communication is critical to safety.
This resolution is sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Ahmadu Jaha, who represents the Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza federal constituency, during plenary on Wednesday.
In presenting the motion, Jaha highlighted the growing importance of telecommunications to both the national economy and everyday life, noting that expectations among subscribers continue to rise. He, however, pointed to a widening gap between what users expect and the level of service currently being delivered, describing the trend as a growing concern that requires urgent attention.
“Telecommunication has become a vital part of everyday life in Nigeria. It connects families, supports businesses, enhances education, and drives economic growth. However, despite its importance, the quality of service provided by many telecom companies remains unsatisfactory,” he said.
He cited recurring issues such as dropped calls, poor data speeds and failed message delivery as evidence of systemic inefficiencies within the sector.
“The House is concerned that poor network connectivity is a major issue. Subscribers frequently experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and difficulty sending messages. This affects both personal communication and business operations, leading to frustration and financial losses,” Jaha added.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about the mismatch between the high cost of telecom services and the quality delivered.
“The House notes that the high cost of data and call tariffs does not match the quality of service delivered. Nigerians often pay significant amounts for data bundles that are quickly exhausted due to unstable connections and network interruptions,” he said.
Beyond network issues, Jaha highlighted what he described as a breakdown in customer service systems, noting that subscribers often struggle to get timely responses or resolutions to complaints.
According to him, “many subscribers find it difficult to get timely responses to complaints, and issues are often left unresolved for long periods, thereby affecting emergency communications in dire situations like fire outbreaks, medical situations, vehicular situations and the needed responses.”
He further attributed part of the problem to inadequate infrastructure expansion, especially in rapidly growing urban centres and underserved rural communities.
“Network congestion during peak hours and in densely populated areas shows that infrastructure development has not kept pace with the growing number of users. In light of these challenges, I strongly believe that telecom companies must take urgent steps to improve their services,” he said.
Supporting the motion, Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi accused telecom operators of prioritising profit over service improvement, while also faulting the NCC for regulatory complacency.
“It is like these companies have made enough profits in billions, and so, they don’t care about improving the network anymore. The NCC, the regulator, has become complacent,” Ozodinobi said.
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has undergone a remarkable transformation since its liberalisation in the early 2000s, growing from fewer than one million connected lines to more than 200 million active subscriptions. This expansion, largely fuelled by private sector investment and the rapid spread of mobile technology, has positioned telecoms as a central pillar of the country’s digital economy.
Yet, the pace of infrastructure development has lagged behind this surge in demand. Analysts continue to flag a shortage of base stations, erratic electricity supply and rising operating costs as key factors undermining service quality. Many operators remain dependent on diesel generators to keep networks running, a costly workaround that limits further expansion and efficiency.
The burden is compounded by multiple layers of taxation imposed by federal, state and local authorities, which industry players say discourage fresh investment in infrastructure. Persistent vandalism of telecom installations and ongoing right-of-way disputes have further slowed network rollout, particularly in rural communities and areas affected by insecurity.
Despite these constraints, critics maintain that the Nigerian Communications Commission has not taken a sufficiently firm stance in enforcing quality standards. While the regulator periodically sets benchmarks and imposes fines, enforcement is often viewed as inconsistent, with penalties too weak to compel lasting compliance.
Consumer advocacy groups have also raised concerns about inadequate protection for subscribers, pointing to issues such as opaque billing practices, slow complaint resolution and unreliable service delivery.
The House unanimously adopted the motion and directed all telecom operators to step up investment in modern infrastructure, widen coverage—especially in underserved rural areas—and improve customer service systems.
Lawmakers also called for fairer pricing structures that better reflect the quality of service provided.
The House signalled a tougher stance on regulation, directing the commission to enforce stricter standards and ensure operators are held accountable.
The House resolved to set up an adhoc committee to examine the underlying causes of poor service delivery and propose further legislative measures.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has promoted 547 employees and approved salary step increments for 579 others as part of a broad workforce development programme designed to reward outstanding performance, strengthen staff motivation and drive organisational excellence.
The exercise, which benefitted 1,126 employees, followed the successful completion of the company’s 2025 Performance Appraisal Exercise and underscores AEDC’s commitment to building a high-performing, customer-focused workforce.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AEDC, Chijioke Okwuokenye, said the initiative reflects the company’s resolve to place employees at the heart of its transformation agenda, stressing that investment in human capital remains critical to achieving sustainable growth.
He described the promotions and salary adjustments as a recognition of diligence, professionalism and commitment, noting that the company would continue to reward excellence while creating opportunities for career advancement.
According to him, AEDC is intentionally fostering a work environment where merit, innovation, continuous learning and teamwork determine career progression, adding that employee welfare remains a key pillar of the company’s long-term strategy.
“Our people remain our greatest asset and the foundation upon which AEDC’s future will be built. This is more than a reward for performance; it is a reaffirmation of our belief that excellence should always be recognised, talent should be nurtured and hard work should create opportunities for growth,” Okwuokenye said.
He explained that the organisation is committed to providing employees with fulfilling career opportunities that enable them to maximise their potential while contributing to AEDC’s ambition of becoming one of Africa’s leading electricity distribution companies.
The AEDC chief also urged employees who were not promoted in the current appraisal cycle to remain committed, assuring them that the company’s performance management system is structured to support continuous improvement, skills development and future career progression.
AEDC said the promotion and salary increment exercise forms part of its broader strategy to cultivate a performance-driven culture, encourage professionalism and recognise employees who contribute significantly to the company’s growth.
The company added that as it continues to modernise operations, improve electricity service delivery and enhance customer experience, it will sustain investments in staff development to strengthen productivity and reinforce its position as one of Nigeria’s preferred employers in the power sector.
Some hoodlums suspected to be political thugs on Sunday stormed a permanent voter’s card (PVC) distribution centre in Okuku, the headquarters of the Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state, and carted away two packs of PVCs.
The INEC officials were busy distributing the cards at the Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, when the thugs suddenly arrived and started shooting sporadically into the air, scaring residents and officials, and took two packs of cards and left the venue before police could arrive at the scene.
The spokesperson of the Osun State Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said that about ten armed hoodlums invaded the centre, fired sporadically into the air and carted away three packs of PVCs before fleeing the scene.
Ojelabi disclosed that the State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, has condemned the attack and directed a comprehensive investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Reacting to the development, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, condemned the attack. She said she was to get the detailed report on the attack, adding that she is yet to know the exact number of PVCs carted away by the hoodlums.
The REC, however, assured the people of the state that the governorship election would be free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has uploaded the details of 27 governorship candidates and their running mates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) ahead of the August 8 deadline.
The party has also uploaded the particulars of more than 60 per cent of its candidates contesting seats in the various State Houses of Assembly.
Findings indicated that the APC’s ICT department has completed the upload for candidates in 27 of the 28 states conducting governorship elections, with disagreement over the deputy governorship slot in one North-West state delaying the final submission.
A source on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) Vetting Committee, chaired by Hon. Jibrin Bancir, disclosed that 15 of the 16 incumbent governors seeking re-election had been cleared and uploaded to the portal.
Also uploaded were the details of 12 first-time governorship candidates and their running mates, including Obafemi Hamzat (Lagos), Solomon Adeola (Ogun), Ogundu Kingsley Chinda (Rivers), Eric Opah (Abia), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Mustapha Gubio (Borno), Jamilu Gwamna (Gombe), Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa) and Baba Malam Wali (Yobe).
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the vetting committee said the party had made substantial progress in meeting the electoral commission’s deadline.
“We have made giant strides in our efforts to upload the details of all our governorship candidates and their deputies. In fact, but for one state, we would have completed and closed the process for governorship candidates,” the source said.
The source attributed the delay to the unresolved choice of a deputy governorship candidate in a North-West state.
“The delay is caused by the deputy governorship candidate. We have been told that the issue will be resolved at a crucial stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Monday here in Abuja,” the official added.
On the nomination of state assembly candidates, the source said the party had overcome initial technical challenges on INEC’s portal and had successfully uploaded the particulars of more than 60 per cent of its candidates.
“Despite the initial delay due to technical issues from the electoral umpire, our ICT personnel kept scanning and filling the details of our State Houses of Assembly candidates,” the source stated. “It was easy for us to upload immediately INEC opened the portal for sub-national lawmakers.
“Recall that our party completed the uploading of our Presidential and National Assembly candidates within record time. We are fully set to ensure that details of all 28 governorship candidates, their deputies, and the 990 state legislative nominees are uploaded well before the August 8 deadline.”
Under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties must strictly comply with statutory timelines to submit candidate lists along with affidavits and personal declarations (Forms EC9 and EC9A through EC9E).
The digital portal—which opened at 9:00 a.m. on July 18—will automatically lock at 6:00 p.m. on August 8, leaving no room for manual submissions or post-deadline extensions.
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