…lawmakers insist on constitutional powers to summon operators over poor services, warn against defying legislative summons
By Gloria Ikibah 
The House of Representatives has reaffirmed its constitutional authority to summon telecommunications operators over persistent poor service delivery, warning that neither regulatory arrangements nor court challenges can shield them from legislative oversight.
The lawmakers restated their position on Wednesday after ordering representatives of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) out of a meeting of the House Adhoc Committee on Telecommunications Service Quality in Abuja.
The development followed the failure of chief executives of major telecommunications companies to honour a fresh summons to appear before the committee and explain the deteriorating quality of services provided to millions of Nigerian subscribers.
Rather than the individual company executives, representatives of ALTON, including officials from MTN, Globacom, Airtel and T2 Mobile, appeared before the committee, claiming to represent the association and its member companies.
The representatives told the lawmakers that the operators had instituted legal proceedings challenging the summons but decided to attend the meeting out of respect for the National Assembly.
The committee, however, rejected their appearance, insisting that its invitation was specifically addressed to the individual telecommunications companies and not their umbrella association.
It maintained that each operator held a separate licence and therefore had an independent responsibility to account for its operations, service standards and obligations to Nigerian consumers.
The confrontation came barely a week after the House directed that arrest summons be issued against the chief executives for failing to honour an earlier invitation, giving them November 4 as the fresh date to appear before the committee.
The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Olumide Osoba, represented by Rep. Sunday Umeha, who presided over the meeting, questioned whether the operators had obtained any court order restraining the committee from carrying out its investigation.
The lawmakers also accused ALTON of disregarding an earlier directive that the association was not invited to the proceedings.
Following a heated exchange, the presiding officer ordered the representatives to leave the meeting, warning that any further unauthorised appearance before the committee could attract detention.
He emphasised that while ALTON was at liberty to pursue its legal grievances through the courts, it must not interfere with or disrupt the proceedings of the legislature.
“You are not invited. You are an intruder. This will be the last warning. On no account, except you are invited, should ALTON, under any guise whatsoever, appear before this committee again,” he said.
The committee subsequently proceeded with a brief executive session involving officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), who remained at the meeting after the ALTON representatives were asked to leave.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Osoba said the investigation was prompted by mounting complaints from telecommunications subscribers over worsening network quality, unreliable internet services and the failure of operators to deliver value for money.
He disclosed that the House had received several petitions from Nigerians expressing dissatisfaction with dropped calls, disappearing data subscriptions, poor internet connectivity and frequent network disruptions.
According to him, the consequences extend beyond ordinary inconvenience, as businesses, commercial activities and essential services increasingly depend on reliable telecommunications infrastructure.
He particularly identified small and medium-scale enterprises, including businesses that rely heavily on Point of Sale (POS) terminals and other electronic payment platforms, as among those suffering significant losses from persistent network failures.
Osoba also raised concerns about the implications of poor telecommunications services for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, noting that some electoral processes and technological devices depend on efficient and reliable communication networks.
He warned that failure to address the existing challenges ahead of the elections could raise questions about the reliability of telecommunications infrastructure and undermine public confidence in technology-driven electoral processes.
“If at the moment the network is in the state it is now, then what becomes the fate and confidence of Nigerians when the general election comes?” he asked.
The lawmaker explained that the committee had invited the chief executives and senior management officials of MTN, Globacom, Airtel and other licensed operators to provide detailed explanations for the persistent service failures and present concrete measures being taken to address them.
He expressed disappointment that the companies had again failed to honour the invitation, describing their decision to send representatives of ALTON instead as a development that raised concerns about their willingness to submit to legislative accountability.
Osoba also dismissed arguments contained in some legal opinions suggesting that the National Assembly lacked the authority to summon telecommunications operators because the sector was regulated by the NCC.
Citing Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, he maintained that the legislature possessed the constitutional authority to investigate matters within its mandate, examine the implementation of laws enacted by the National Assembly and ensure that public institutions and relevant stakeholders discharged their responsibilities.
He noted that the Nigerian Communications Act, which provides the legal framework for regulating the telecommunications industry, was enacted by the National Assembly.
“The law under which NCC operates was made by the National Assembly. We enacted that law and gave the agency the power to issue licences. We also have the power of oversight on the agency,” he said.
The lawmaker argued that the NCC’s regulatory mandate did not place telecommunications operators beyond legislative scrutiny, particularly when their services had become the subject of widespread public complaints.
“Who says we don’t have the powers to do so? Of course, we have the powers. You see, people will always try to evade accountability and transparency. That’s what is going on,” he added.
He assured Nigerians that the House would sustain its investigation and insist on accountability from telecommunications operators in the interest of millions of subscribers who depend on their services for communication, business transactions, education and other essential activities.
Osoba further disclosed that the committee had adjourned its proceedings until Wednesday next week, expressing the expectation that the chief executives of the affected telecommunications companies would personally appear before the panel in compliance with the legislative summons.
He warned that the House will take the necessary steps to enforce its summons and invoke relevant constitutional powers should the operators continue to disregard its directives.
