Reps Order Arrest Summons Against Telecom CEOs Over Ignored Invitation

The House of Representatives has moved to issue arrest summons against chief executives of telecommunications companies for failing to appear before its committee investigating poor network services.

The lawmakers took the decision on Wednesday after rejecting Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), whom the companies sent to represent them.

The ad hoc committee, chaired by Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun), directed the chief executives and other senior management officials of licensed operators to appear on November 4, 2026.

The committee had invited the executives on October 21 to explain persistent complaints about poor network quality. However, the operators sent Adebayo instead, prompting lawmakers to insist that each company must answer directly to the House.

Moving the motion for the arrest summons, Rep. Sunday Umeha argued that every operator held an individual licence from the Federal Government. He maintained that membership of an industry association could not exempt the companies from legislative scrutiny.

Umeha also faulted a letter from ALTON which, he said, questioned the committee’s authority to compel the operators to appear.

“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.

Citing Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Umeha said the National Assembly had the power to investigate matters within its legislative jurisdiction.

He explained that the committee could examine the implementation of government policies affecting telecommunications and demand explanations from the companies responsible for providing the services.

The lawmaker added that the committee was not bound by ALTON’s internal arrangements and could insist on the personal appearance of each chief executive unless it accepted an authorised representative.

A representative of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed that the regulator had individually communicated the invitations to the chief executives.

The confirmation reinforced the lawmakers’ position that the companies had received proper notice but failed to comply.

Umeha recalled that the committee had considered issuing arrest summons at its previous sitting but decided to give the executives another opportunity to appear.

He said the operators had again failed to honour the invitation despite the additional communication through the NCC.

Supporting the motion, House spokesperson Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr. criticised ALTON’s decision to represent the companies, arguing that subscribers dealt directly with individual network providers.

Rotimi also raised security concerns over poor network coverage 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 prioritising commercially attractive locations while neglecting communities with inadequate coverage.

During the proceedings, lawmakers also questioned Adebayo about a reported N8.46 billion fine imposed on Globacom. They asked whether he could adequately address issues relating to individual operators.

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

The investigation comes amid continuing complaints about dropped calls, slow internet speeds, failed transactions and poor network coverage across the country.

On October 20, the NCC reported that telecommunications operators had compensated 75 million subscribers for poor service in 2026. Nearly three million other subscribers received refunds for failed airtime and data transactions.

The regulator also recorded more than 6,500 network interventions during the year.

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

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

Although the operators resolved 406,938 complaints, persistent dissatisfaction with network quality has continued to attract public attention.

The House is seeking explanations from the companies and concrete measures to improve service delivery, as subscribers continue to face unreliable calls, slow data connections and inconsistent coverage.