By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the persistent poor quality of telecommunications services in Nigeria has given chief executives of MTN, Airtel, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other operators seven days to appear before it or risk being summoned for arrest.
The committee issued the ultimatum at a public hearing in Abuja on Wednesday, directing the telecommunications operators to appear before it on October 28, 2026, to explain the persistent decline in network quality affecting millions of subscribers and businesses across the country. 
The decision followed the adoption of two motions sponsored by Rep. Sunday Umeha and Rep. Afam Ogene after the committee expressed displeasure over the failure of some invited operators, including MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications, to honour previous invitations.
The committee directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that all affected operators comply with the invitation and appear at 2 pm on October 28 in Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
It also ordered the companies to submit all relevant documents on or before the scheduled date and provide explanations for the persistent deterioration in their services.
The lawmakers warned that any chief executive who failed to honour the invitation could face a summons for arrest to compel their appearance before the committee.
Speaking at the hearing, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Olumide Osoba, said telecommunications services had become indispensable to Nigeria’s economy, extending beyond voice calls and internet access to critical commercial activities, including Point of Sale (POS) transactions.
Osoba noted that businesses, financial transactions and other essential services relied heavily on dependable telecommunications networks, making the persistent decline in service quality a serious national concern.
He explained that the House constituted the adhoc committee to investigate recurring complaints by subscribers and establish the factors responsible for the poor quality of services delivered by telecommunications operators.
The chairman, however, expressed concern that the invited chief executives had continued to avoid direct engagement with the committee by offering various excuses or sending lower-ranking officials to represent them.
He emphasised that the committee expected the chief executives to appear in person, noting that they were better positioned to explain their companies’ operational challenges, service commitments and measures to address subscribers’ complaints.
Also speaking, Rep. Ibe Osonwa condemned what he described as the operators’ disregard for the House, despite the substantial revenue they generated from their operations in Nigeria.
Osonwa said it was unacceptable for companies benefiting from the Nigerian market to ignore invitations from the legislature, particularly when lawmakers sought explanations on issues directly affecting their customers and the wider economy.
He maintained that telecommunications operators had a responsibility to account for the quality of services they provided to Nigerians, warning that the House would not tolerate attempts to frustrate its investigation.
In his ruling, Osoba urged the NCC to ensure full compliance with the committee’s resolution, reiterating that the affected operators must appear on October 28 with the required documents and explanations.
The investigation comes amid persistent complaints by telecommunications subscribers over dropped calls, unstable internet connections, poor data services and network disruptions that affect communication, business transactions and other daily activities.
The committee’s ultimatum signals an effort by lawmakers to hold service providers accountable and establish the reasons behind the recurring network failures, as subscribers continue to demand more reliable telecommunications services.
