Reps Summon MTN, Airtel, Glo CEOs Over Poor Network Services

The House of Representatives has directed chief executives of major telecommunications companies in Nigeria to appear before its ad hoc committee on November 4, 2026, over persistent complaints about poor network services.

The decision followed the operators’ failure to honour an earlier invitation issued for October 21, prompting lawmakers to reject the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, who appeared on their behalf.

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The committee, chaired by Olumide Osoba, directed the chief executives and other senior officials of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other licensed operators to appear and respond to questions about the quality of their services.

Reps Reject Telecom Operators’ Representative

During Wednesday’s sitting, lawmakers insisted that the companies must appear individually to explain the recurring service failures affecting subscribers across the country.

Moving a motion on the matter, Rep. Sunday Umeha argued that each telecommunications operator held a separate licence from the Federal Government and should not rely on its membership of an industry association to avoid appearing before the committee.

Umeha also criticised a letter from ALTON which, according to him, questioned the committee’s authority to invite the operators.

“I was shocked with what I saw in the letter. I saw a situation where ALTON is saying that they are not bound to appear before this committee. They see their appearance as a privilege to this committee and not as a statutory obligation,” he said.

The lawmaker cited Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, arguing that the National Assembly had the power to investigate matters connected to its legislative responsibilities, including the implementation of government policies affecting the telecommunications sector.

He maintained that the committee should question the companies directly rather than accept a representative sent through their association.

Lawmakers Considered Arrest of CEOs

A representative of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) told the committee that the commission had communicated the invitations directly to the chief executives.

Umeha disclosed that lawmakers had considered ordering the arrest of the executives at their previous sitting but decided to give them another opportunity to appear.

He argued that the companies had failed to take advantage of that opportunity despite further communication through the NCC.

Supporting the motion, House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Jr. questioned ALTON’s decision to represent the operators, noting that subscribers deal directly with individual telecommunications companies when they experience poor service.

Rotimi also raised concerns about inadequate network coverage and security in parts of his constituency in Ekiti State.

He alleged that two traditional rulers in the area had been killed in an ambush along a road where mobile network signals were unavailable for about 20 minutes.

The lawmaker accused operators of concentrating infrastructure in commercially attractive locations while leaving some communities with poor or no network coverage.

Reps Question Reported ₦8.46bn Globacom Fine

During the session, lawmakers also questioned Adebayo about a reported ₦8.46 billion fine imposed on Globacom, asking whether he could adequately address issues relating to the operations of individual companies.

Following the debate, committee chairman Osoba put Umeha’s motion to a voice vote, and members supported it. The committee subsequently adjourned until November 4.

NCC Reports 413,587 Complaints Against Major Operators

The investigation comes amid continued complaints from subscribers over dropped calls, slow internet connections, failed airtime and data transactions, and inadequate network coverage.

According to figures cited in the report, the NCC said on October 20 that telecommunications operators had compensated 75 million subscribers for poor services in 2026. Nearly three million other subscribers reportedly received refunds for failed airtime and data transactions.

The commission also said it had carried out more than 6,500 network interventions during the year.

Despite these measures, the four major operators recorded a combined 413,587 consumer complaints in the first half of 2026.

Airtel reportedly accounted for 228,992 complaints, followed by MTN with 124,405, Globacom with 56,810 and T2mobile with 3,885.

The operators reportedly resolved 406,938 complaints, although concerns over service quality have persisted.

The House committee is seeking explanations from the companies and assurances on the steps they intend to take to improve network reliability, coverage and the overall experience of telecommunications subscribers in Nigeria.