Nigerian House of Representatives Gives MTN, Airtel, and Globacom CEOs Until November 4 to Appear Over Poor Network Services

The Nigerian House of Representatives has officially issued a strict final warning and deadline to the chief executive officers of major telecommunications companies, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, ordering them to appear before parliament by November 4, 2026.

The major legislative action and warning were publicly announced on October 29, 2026, following mounting complaints about terrible phone and internet service across the country.

Under this intense legislative investigation, lawmakers demanded that the telecom bosses explain the continuous causes of dropped phone calls, extremely slow internet speeds, failed data transactions, and total network blackspots in towns and villages.

The lawmakers took firm action after the telecom operators failed to show up at a previous hearing, attempting instead to send a single representative from an industry association.

The parliamentary committee completely rejected that collective representation, insisting that every telecom company must answer for its own service failures.

Citing constitutional powers, lawmakers noted that because each company holds an individual operating license from the national regulator, its top leaders must answer directly to the public representatives.

Official industry figures show that mobile phone users filed over two hundred and fourteen thousand formal complaints regarding poor network quality between April and September 2026, highlighting the severe frustration experienced by everyday subscribers.

Holding giant corporations accountable for poor network quality and dropped phone calls is very important for everyday market traders, remote online workers, small business owners, and traveling families across Nigeria.

In today’s digital economy, poor network service causes massive financial losses, leading to failed bank point-of-sale transactions, delayed money transfers, and disrupted trade.

Furthermore, online remote workers risk losing their international jobs due to sudden internet disconnections during video calls, while travelers trapped in highway blackspots cannot reach emergency services.

Forcing telecom bosses to explain their poor services helps protect consumers and ensures that ordinary citizens get the reliable communication networks they pay for.

Explaining the constitutional authority of the parliament and why the telecom chiefs must appear in person to account for their service records, committee members shared firm remarks during the legislative session.

Highlighting the legal obligation of licensed network operators to respect public oversight, lawmaker Sunday Umeha stated that “the operators obtained individual licenses issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission, the industry’s regulator, and could not rely on their membership of an industry association to avoid appearing before the committee”.

Emphasizing that the parliament will use all legal powers under the national constitution to protect Nigerian consumers from ongoing service exploitation, lawmakers maintained strict conditions for the upcoming meeting.

Pointing out that network operators must present clear plans to fix poor service quality, the committee confirmed that failure to obey the final summons will result in immediate arrest warrants.

Citizens are closely monitoring the showdown. As the November 4 deadline approaches, mobile phone users across the country hope the legislative pressure will force telecom operators to fix their networks and improve service delivery.