Poor network: Reps eject ALTON officials from hearing, threaten sanctions

The House of Representatives on Wednesday ordered representatives of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria out of its hearing on poor network quality, warning that further unauthorised appearances could attract detention.

The lawmakers also threatened fresh sanctions against chief executives of telecommunications companies who failed to honour legislative summons, insisting that neither the industry’s regulatory framework nor pending court proceedings could undermine the constitutional powers of the National Assembly.

The confrontation occurred at a meeting of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Telecommunications Service Quality in Abuja, following the failure of chief executives of MTN, Globacom, Airtel and T2 Mobile to appear before the panel to explain persistent complaints about poor service delivery.

Instead, representatives of the operators, led by officials of ALTON, appeared before the committee, claiming to represent the association and its member companies.

They told the lawmakers that the telecommunications 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, arguing that the invitation was issued to the individual companies and not their umbrella association.

The lawmakers maintained that each operator held a separate licence and was independently responsible for its operations, service standards and obligations to subscribers.

The development came barely a week after the House directed that arrest summons be issued against the chief executives for failing to honour an earlier invitation, with November 4 fixed for their appearance.

The committee’s chairman, Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun), represented by Sunday Umeha, who presided over the meeting, questioned whether the operators had obtained a court order restraining the committee from proceeding with 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, Umeha ordered the representatives to leave the meeting, describing their presence as an intrusion and warning against further unauthorised appearances.

“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 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 dropped calls, unreliable internet services, disappearing data subscriptions and frequent network disruptions.

He said the House had received several petitions from Nigerians dissatisfied with the quality of services provided by telecommunications operators.

According to him, the consequences of poor network quality extend beyond inconvenience, as businesses, commercial activities and essential services increasingly depend on reliable telecommunications infrastructure.

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He identified small and medium-scale enterprises, particularly businesses relying on Point of Sale terminals and electronic payment platforms, as among those suffering significant losses from persistent network failures.

Osoba also expressed concern 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 communication networks.

“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 said the committee had invited the chief executives and senior management officials of the affected companies to provide detailed explanations for the persistent service failures and outline concrete measures being taken to address them.

He expressed disappointment that the operators had again failed to honour the invitation, describing their decision to send ALTON representatives as a troubling indication of their willingness to submit to legislative accountability.

Osoba also dismissed arguments suggesting that the National Assembly lacked the authority to summon telecommunications operators because the sector was regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Citing Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, he maintained that the legislature had the power to investigate matters within its mandate, examine the implementation of laws enacted by the National Assembly and ensure that relevant institutions discharged their responsibilities.

He noted that the Nigerian Communications Act, which provides the legal framework for regulating the 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.

Osoba assured Nigerians that the House would sustain the investigation in the interest of millions of subscribers who depend on telecommunications services for communication, business transactions, education and other essential activities.

He disclosed that the committee had adjourned its proceedings until Wednesday next week, expressing the expectation that the chief executives of the affected companies would personally appear before the panel.

He warned that the House would take necessary steps to enforce its summons and invoke relevant constitutional powers if the operators continued to disregard its directives.

The investigation comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with telecommunications service quality in Nigeria, where mobile networks have become critical to banking, commerce, education and public services.

The NCC is responsible for regulating the telecommunications industry, including licensing operators and enforcing service-quality standards. However, the House maintained that the commission’s regulatory role does not preclude legislative oversight, particularly where public complaints raise questions about compliance with existing laws and consumer protection obligations.