Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have dragged the House of Representatives before the Federal High Court in Abuja over its investigation into poor network services across the country.
The operators are asking the court to determine whether lawmakers have the constitutional authority to investigate telecommunications companies over service quality, given that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is responsible for regulating the industry.
The suit, filed on November 4, 2026, is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2713/2026. It was instituted by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), MTN Nigeria, Airtel Networks, Globacom and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited, which operates 9mobile.
The companies are challenging the powers of the House of Representatives under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that lawmakers cannot exercise unlimited investigative powers over privately owned telecommunications businesses.
They maintain that the NCC has the statutory responsibility to monitor network performance, establish service quality standards and enforce compliance under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The legal action also seeks clarification on whether the House has the authority to issue arrest warrants to compel telecommunications company executives to appear before its investigative committee.
The dispute follows a November 4 hearing of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Telecommunications Quality of Service, where lawmakers rejected the appearance of ALTON representatives who had come on behalf of the operators.
The committee had earlier summoned the chief executives of the affected companies to explain persistent complaints from subscribers, including dropped calls, poor internet connectivity, failed airtime and data transactions, and inadequate network coverage.
However, the lawmakers insisted that the individual company executives must appear personally rather than sending representatives of their industry association.
The court case has now brought the disagreement between the telecommunications industry and lawmakers into the courtroom, with the judiciary expected to clarify the limits of legislative oversight and the regulatory responsibilities of the NCC.The matter is yet to be determined by the court.
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