Daud Olatunji
Nigerians grappling with persistent network failures, dropped calls, slow internet connections and disrupted business transactions may get answers as the House of Representatives has summoned the chief executives of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and Mafab Communications over the deteriorating quality of telecommunications services across the country.
The lawmakers have given the telecommunications operators seven days to appear before an ad hoc committee investigating the poor services, warning that any chief executive who fails to honour the invitation could face a summons for arrest to compel their appearance.
The summons followed mounting complaints from subscribers over what they describe as unsatisfactory services despite the importance of telecommunications to daily life, business operations and the digital economy.
For millions of Nigerians, unreliable networks mean more than the inconvenience of failed phone calls. Poor connectivity can disrupt online transactions, delay business communications, frustrate students attending virtual classes and prevent customers from completing electronic payments.
Point-of-Sale operators, who depend heavily on telecommunications networks to process transactions, are also vulnerable to network disruptions that can leave customers stranded and businesses struggling to serve them.
The House issued the directive at a public hearing in Abuja on Wednesday after several telecommunications operators invited to the investigation failed to appear.
The committee subsequently directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to ensure that the affected companies comply with the invitation and appear at 2pm on October 28 at Hearing Room 447 of the New Building of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The companies were also instructed to submit relevant documents before the hearing and explain the factors responsible for the decline in service quality, as well as the measures being taken to address subscribers’ concerns.
The resolution followed the adoption of two motions sponsored by Sunday Umeha, representing Enugu State, and Afam Ogene, representing Anambra State.
… Subscribers Bear The Brunt
The investigation comes against the backdrop of widespread frustration over unreliable telecommunications services, with subscribers increasingly concerned about the gap between the services they pay for and the quality of connectivity they receive.
For many customers, the frustration is compounded by their dependence on mobile networks for work, education, banking, business transactions and access to essential information.
Poor network quality can leave callers struggling to complete conversations, while unstable internet connections can interrupt video calls, prevent downloads and disrupt online activities.
For traders and small business owners, network failures can translate into lost sales, delayed payments and dissatisfied customers.
The situation also raises questions about consumer protection and the responsibility of telecommunications operators to provide reliable services to subscribers who spend money on airtime, data and other network-related services.
However, the specific causes of the reported deterioration, including the extent to which infrastructure constraints and other operational challenges may be responsible, are expected to be addressed by the companies during the lawmakers’ investigation.
Reps Fault Telecom Chiefs’ Absence
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Olumide Osoba, said telecommunications services had become indispensable to Nigeria’s economy, stressing that their importance extended beyond making calls and accessing the internet.
According to him, businesses, financial transactions and Point-of-Sale operations depend significantly on reliable telecommunications networks.
Osoba said the committee was constituted in response to recurring complaints from subscribers over poor service delivery.
He expressed concern that some of the invited companies had failed to engage directly with the committee, alleging that they either sent junior officials in place of their chief executives or offered excuses for their absence.
The committee chairman insisted that the chief executives must appear personally to explain the operational challenges confronting their companies and outline the steps being taken to improve service delivery.
The lawmakers’ position signals growing concern over the accountability of major telecommunications operators in a country where millions of citizens depend on mobile networks for economic and social activities.
Lawmakers Warn Against Disregard For National Assembly
Another member of the committee, Ibe Osonwa, representing Abia State, criticised the operators for failing to honour the invitation.
Osonwa said it was unacceptable for companies generating substantial revenue from the Nigerian market to disregard an invitation from the legislature, particularly when the investigation concerned services affecting millions of customers.
He maintained that telecommunications companies must be held accountable for the quality of services they provide and warned against attempts to frustrate the investigation.
The committee subsequently directed the NCC to ensure that all the affected operators appear before the lawmakers on the scheduled date.
The regulator is expected to facilitate compliance with the invitation, while the companies are to provide the requested documents and explanations concerning the state of their networks.
NCC Under Pressure To Protect Consumers
The development also places the Nigerian Communications Commission under scrutiny over its responsibility to monitor telecommunications operators and ensure compliance with applicable service-quality requirements.
As the industry’s regulator, the NCC has a central role in overseeing operators and addressing concerns relating to service delivery and consumer protection.
The lawmakers’ directive raises the question of what measures should follow if the investigation establishes persistent service-quality failures or inadequate responses to subscribers’ complaints.
For consumers, the critical issue is whether the hearing will produce measurable improvements rather than another round of promises.
The October 28 appearance is expected to provide an opportunity for the operators to explain the challenges affecting their networks, respond to the lawmakers’ concerns and outline steps to improve service delivery.
Until then, subscribers continue to depend on telecommunications services for essential activities, with unreliable connectivity carrying financial, educational and social consequences.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the committee expects the chief executives of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and Mafab Communications to appear personally and provide the requested explanations and documents.
The outcome of the investigation could prove significant for millions of Nigerians who want more reliable networks, improved customer experience and greater accountability from telecommunications companies operating in the country.
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