Major telecommunications operators in Nigeria have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the House of Representatives from investigating poor network services, arguing that the responsibility falls within the regulatory powers of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Networks, Globacom and Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (EMTS), operators of 9mobile, filed the suit alongside the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) on November 4.
The legal action followed summonses issued by the House ad hoc committee on telecommunications service quality on October 29, directing the companies’ chief executives to appear before it and submit relevant documents.
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The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2713/2026, also names the House of Representatives, its Speaker, the Clerk of the House and the Inspector-General of Police as defendants.
The operators are asking the court to determine whether the National Assembly has the constitutional authority to investigate telecommunications service quality, which they insist is a matter for the NCC.
They argued that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution limit the investigative powers of the National Assembly to specific matters, including assisting in lawmaking, exposing corruption and examining the administration of public funds appropriated by the legislature.
According to the plaintiffs, the companies are private operators and do not fall within the constitutional provisions governing the execution of laws or management of public funds.
They also cited Sections 4, 70 and 105 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and the Nigerian Communications (Quality of Service) Regulations 2024, which they said empower the NCC to establish, monitor and enforce industry service standards.
The companies warned that allowing the lawmakers to proceed could interfere with the commission's statutory responsibilities and ongoing court cases concerning telecommunications service quality.
The two cases cited are FHC/261/2025, instituted by Fatokunboh Fagun and another on behalf of themselves and MTN subscribers, and FHC/ABJ/CS/1886/2026, filed by Kaatruths Podcast Limited.
Among other reliefs, the operators are seeking an order nullifying the summonses and restraining the House from enforcing them through arrest warrants or other measures against their chief executives.
They also want the court to prevent the lawmakers from investigating telecommunications service quality in matters outside the purposes permitted under Section 88(2) of the Constitution or those falling within the NCC's regulatory responsibilities.
The dispute followed growing complaints by subscribers over dropped calls, unstable internet connections, slow data speeds and poor network coverage across the country.
The House had earlier given MTN, Airtel, Globacom, Mafab Communications and other operators seven days to explain the persistent deterioration in network services.
The ultimatum was issued by the ad hoc committee, chaired by Olumide Osoba, after some operators reportedly failed to honour previous invitations.
At a public hearing in Abuja, the committee directed the companies to appear with relevant documents and explain the factors responsible for poor service delivery.
Osoba said telecommunications had become critical to the economy, extending beyond calls and internet access to essential transactions, including Point of Sale payments.
He described the disruptions as a matter of serious national concern because of the growing dependence of businesses and financial transactions on telecommunications networks.
The lawmaker also criticised company executives for failing to appear personally before the committee, insisting that they were better positioned to explain their operational challenges and plans to address subscribers' complaints.
Another member of the committee, Ibe Osonwa, accused the operators of disregarding the House despite the revenue they generated from Nigeria.
The court's decision is expected to clarify the boundaries between the legislative investigative powers of the National Assembly and the NCC's statutory responsibility for regulating telecommunications services.
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