…reject ALTON chairman’s representation, give MTN, Airtel, Glo, Mafab others November 4 deadline
By Gloria Ikibah 
The House of Representatives has threatened to issue warrants of arrest against chief executives of telecommunications companies that fail to appear before its committee investigating persistent poor network services across the country.
The warning came on Wednesday after the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating the quality of telecommunications services rejected an attempt 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 (APC, Ogun), directed the chief executives and other top management officials of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other licensed operators to appear before it on November 4, 2026.
The lawmakers warned that failure to honour the invitation could attract arrest warrants.
The committee had initially invited the operators on October 21 to explain persistent complaints about dropped calls, slow internet connectivity, failed transactions and inadequate network coverage.
However, the companies reportedly delegated Adebayo to represent them at the hearing, prompting lawmakers to insist that each operator must personally account for its service delivery and address complaints concerning its operations.
Moving a motion on the matter, Rep. Sunday Umeha argued that the companies were individually licensed by the Federal Government and could not rely on their membership of an industry association to avoid appearing before the legislature.
He also criticised a letter reportedly written by ALTON questioning the committee’s authority to compel the operators to attend the hearing.
Umeha described the position as inconsistent with the constitutional responsibilities of the National Assembly.
“I was shocked with what I saw in the letter. I saw a situation where ALTON is saying that they are not bound to appear before this committee. They see their appearance as a privilege to this committee and not as a statutory obligation,” he said.
Citing Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Umeha maintained that the National Assembly had the authority to investigate matters within its legislative competence, including the implementation of government policies affecting telecommunications services.
He argued that the committee was not bound by ALTON’s internal arrangements and that the operators should appear individually unless the committee expressly accepted an authorised representative.
The position was reinforced when a representative of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed that the commission had communicated the invitations directly to the chief executives.
The confirmation further angered lawmakers, who insisted that the operators had received sufficient notice and adequate opportunities to honour the invitation.
Umeha recalled that the committee had considered a motion to summon the executives for arrest at its previous sitting but agreed to give them another opportunity to appear.
He said the operators had again failed to honour the invitation despite further communication facilitated through the NCC.
Seconding the motion, the House spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., also faulted ALTON’s attempt to speak on behalf of the operators, arguing that subscribers deal directly with individual service providers and expect each company to be accountable for its network performance.
Rotimi expressed concern over poor network coverage in parts of his constituency in Ekiti State, warning that the absence of mobile signals in some communities and along major roads could have serious security implications.
He alleged that two traditional rulers in his constituency had been killed in an ambush along a stretch of road where mobile network signals were unavailable for approximately 20 minutes.
The lawmaker said such connectivity gaps could leave residents and travellers unable to contact security agencies or seek emergency assistance when confronted with danger.
He also criticised telecommunications operators for concentrating infrastructure in commercially attractive locations while leaving some rural communities and underserved areas with inadequate coverage.
The committee questioned Adebayo over a reported ₦8.46 billion fine imposed on Globacom, asking whether the ALTON chairman could adequately address regulatory and operational issues concerning an individual company while appearing in a representative capacity.
Following deliberations, committee chairman Osoba put Umeha’s motion to a voice vote, and the ayes prevailed.
The committee subsequently adjourned its sitting until November 4, when the affected operators are expected to appear.
75 million subscribers compensated in 2026
The investigation comes amid sustained complaints from telecommunications subscribers about dropped calls, slow internet speeds, failed airtime and data transactions, and persistent gaps in network coverage.
The NCC reportedly disclosed on October 20 that telecommunications operators had compensated 75 million subscribers for poor service in 2026, while nearly three million others received refunds for failed airtime and data transactions.
The commission also reported that more than 6,500 network interventions had been undertaken during the year to address service-related challenges.
Despite the interventions and compensation measures, complaints about the quality and reliability of telecommunications services have persisted.
Data for the first half of 2026 showed that the four major operators recorded a combined 413,587 consumer complaints.
Airtel Nigeria accounted for 228,992 complaints, followed by MTN Nigeria with 124,405, Globacom with 56,810 and T2mobile with 3,885.
Although the operators reportedly resolved 406,938 complaints, concerns over the consistency of services have continued, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing measures to protect subscribers.
The House committee is seeking direct explanations from the operators’ leadership on the causes of persistent service failures and the concrete measures being taken to improve network quality.
The November 4 hearing is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to examine the operators’ infrastructure investments, compliance with regulatory requirements and plans to extend reliable telecommunications services to underserved communities.
