The House of Representatives has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria to appear before it and account for their companies’ poor services.
The House Ad hoc Committee investigating the persistent poor quality of service and poor customer experience in the Nigerian telecommunications sector issued the ultimatum at a public hearing on Wednesday in Abuja.
The resolution followed the adoption of two motions moved by Rep. Sunday Umeha (APC-Enugu) and Rep. Afam Ogene (NDC-Anambra), following the failure of the CEOs of MTN, MAFAB Communications Ltd. and other service providers to honour invitations to appear before the committee.
The committee urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that all the CEOs appeared before it on Oct. 28 at the National Assembly Complex.
It also directed the CEOs of MTN, Glo, Airtel, MAFAB and other service providers to account for the persistent decline in the quality of telecommunications services in Nigeria and submit all relevant documents on or before Oct. 28.
The lawmakers threatened to issue summons for the arrest of any CEO who failed to appear before the committee.
The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC-Ogun), said many critical sectors, including Point of Sale (POS) operations, depended on telecommunications networks.
He said telecommunications services had consistently declined in recent times, prompting the House to inaugurate the committee to conduct a thorough investigation.
Osoba, however, alleged that the invited CEOs had continued to evade parliamentary engagements by giving various excuses and sending lower-ranking officials to represent them.
Rep. Ibe Osonwa (LP-Arochukwu/Ohafia) said network providers made substantial profits in Nigeria but did not deem it fit to appear before the people’s parliament to account for their activities.
He described it as unacceptable for companies operating in the country to disregard parliamentary invitations seeking explanations on behalf of citizens from whom they generated substantial revenue.
In his ruling, Osoba urged the NCC to ensure that all service providers complied with the committee’s resolution.
