The House of Representatives has threatened to order the arrest of telecommunications company chief executives who fail to appear before its investigative committee on October 28 to explain persistent poor network services across Nigeria.
The lawmakers issued the warning after some operators, including MTN and Mafab Communications, allegedly failed to honour previous invitations to account for the quality of services provided to subscribers.
The ultimatum was given by the House ad hoc committee investigating the telecommunications sector, chaired by Olumide Osoba, during a public hearing in Abuja on October 21.
The committee fixed the next hearing for 2pm on October 28 in Hearing Room 447, New Building, National Assembly Complex.
It also directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to ensure that the affected operators attend the session and submit relevant documents ahead of the hearing.
Osoba said persistent network failures had become a serious economic concern, given the growing dependence of businesses, financial transactions and essential services on reliable telecommunications infrastructure.
He cited disruptions to Point of Sale transactions as one of the consequences of poor network performance, noting that unreliable connectivity affects both businesses and ordinary Nigerians.
The committee chairman insisted that the chief executives must appear personally to explain the operational challenges facing their companies and outline measures being taken to address subscribers’ complaints.
He said the investigation was aimed at addressing recurring problems, including dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable connections and inadequate network coverage across the country.
The committee’s action comes amid persistent complaints from telecommunications subscribers over the quality of services despite their continued spending on airtime and data.
Another member of the committee, Ibe Osonwa, criticised operators for disregarding invitations from the National Assembly, particularly when they generate substantial revenue from Nigerian consumers.
The lawmakers maintained that the chief executives must account for their companies’ performance and respond to concerns over the quality of services delivered to subscribers.
The NCC was also tasked with ensuring compliance with the committee’s directive as the investigation continues.
The October 28 hearing is expected to provide an opportunity for the operators to explain the causes of the persistent service disruptions and present concrete measures to improve network quality.
The committee warned that failure to honour the invitation could attract further legislative action, including arrest to compel the executives’ attendance.
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