The House of Representatives has threatened to issue arrest warrants against chief executives of telecommunications companies over persistent poor network services, giving them until November 4, 2026, to appear before its investigative committee.
Key Highlights
- Reps threaten arrest warrants for telecom CEOs over poor network services.
- MTN, Airtel, Globacom, Mafab and others given until November 4, 2026, to appear.
- Lawmakers reject ALTON’s bid to represent the operators.
- Rep. Akin Rotimi links network gaps to insecurity, citing killing of two traditional rulers in Ekiti.
The lawmakers rejected an attempt by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to represent the companies through its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, insisting that each operator must personally account for service failures affecting millions of subscribers.
The companies invited include MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other licensed telecommunications operators.
The House committee, chaired by Rep. Olumide Osoba, said the chief executives and senior management officials must appear in person to explain persistent complaints about dropped calls, slow internet connections, failed airtime and data transactions, and inadequate network coverage across the country.
The lawmakers’ threat comes amid continued public complaints about unreliable telecommunications services despite regulatory interventions and compensation measures introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
‘Attendance Is A Statutory Obligation’
Moving a motion on the matter, Rep. Sunday Umeha argued that the operators could not use their industry association to evade accountability, noting that each company held an individual licence issued by the federal government.
He also criticised a letter reportedly written by ALTON, questioning the committee’s authority to compel the operators to attend the hearing.
Rep. Umeha said the association appears to regard attendance as a privilege rather than a statutory obligation, insisting that the National Assembly had constitutional powers to compel the executives to appear.
Citing Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, he said the legislature could investigate matters within its legislative competence, including the implementation of government policies.
He recalled that the committee has previously considered summoning the executives for arrest but decided to give them another opportunity to honour the invitation.
According to him, the operators again failed to appear despite further communication facilitated through the NCC.
A representative of the commission told the committee that invitations had been communicated directly to the companies’ chief executives.
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Security Implications Of Poor Network
Seconding the motion, House spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi faulted ALTON’s attempt to speak for the operators, arguing that subscribers dealt directly with individual service providers and were entitled to demand accountability from them.
Rep. Rotimi also highlighted the security implications of poor network coverage, particularly in rural communities and along major roads.
He cited incidents in his constituency in Ekiti State, alleging that two traditional rulers had been killed in an ambush along a road where mobile network signals were unavailable for about 20 minutes.
The lawmaker warned that such connectivity gaps could prevent residents and travellers from alerting security agencies or seeking emergency assistance during attacks.
He further accused telecommunications operators of prioritising commercially attractive locations while neglecting rural communities and other underserved areas.
The committee also questioned Adebayo over a reported ₦8.46 billion fine imposed on Globacom, raising concerns about whether the ALTON chairman could adequately address regulatory and operational issues involving an individual operator while representing the wider industry.
Following deliberations, the committee adopted Rep. Umeha’s motion through a voice vote and adjourned its sitting until November 4, when the operators are expected to appear.
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