Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Wednesday sharply criticised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for what lawmakers described as weak regulatory oversight, holding the agency responsible for the country’s ongoing poor telecom service quality.
The lawmakers accused the NCC of failing to enforce standards that would compel operators to provide reliable connectivity. They warned that persistent issues like dropped calls, slow data speeds, and network failures pose serious risks to lives and property, particularly during emergencies.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Ahmadu Jaha, representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in Borno State.Speaking on the motion, Jaha emphasised the critical role of telecommunications in Nigeria’s economy and daily life, while lamenting the widening gap between subscriber expectations and actual service delivery.
“Telecommunication has become a vital part of everyday life in Nigeria. It connects families, supports businesses, enhances education, and drives economic growth. However, despite its importance, the quality of service provided by many telecom companies remains unsatisfactory,” he said.
Jaha highlighted recurring problems such as dropped calls, poor internet speeds, and failed message deliveries as signs of deeper systemic failures in the sector.“The House is concerned that poor network connectivity is a major issue.
Subscribers frequently experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and difficulty sending messages. This affects both personal communication and business operations, leading to frustration and financial losses,” he added.
Lawmakers also expressed dissatisfaction with the high cost of services relative to the quality received. Jaha noted that Nigerians pay substantial amounts for data bundles that are quickly depleted due to unstable connections and frequent interruptions.
He further pointed to inadequate customer service, where complaints often go unresolved for long periods, hindering emergency communications during fire outbreaks, medical emergencies, or accidents.The lawmaker attributed part of the problem to insufficient infrastructure expansion, especially in growing urban centres and underserved rural areas.
“Network congestion during peak hours and in densely populated areas shows that infrastructure development has not kept pace with the growing number of users,” he said.Supporting the motion, Deputy Minority Whip Hon. George Ozodinobi accused telecom operators of prioritising profits over service quality while faulting the NCC for regulatory complacency.
“It is like these companies have made enough profits in billions, and so, they don’t care about improving the network anymore. The NCC, the regulator, has become complacent,” Ozodinobi stated.Despite the sector’s rapid growth from under one million lines in the early 2000s to over 200 million active subscriptions today challenges such as insufficient base stations, unreliable power supply, multiple taxation, and infrastructure vandalism continue to hamper service quality.
In its resolution, the House urged telecom companies to invest in modern infrastructure, expand coverage especially in rural communities, improve customer service, and adopt fairer pricing that reflects actual service quality.
The lawmakers also directed the NCC to enforce stricter quality-of-service standards and hold operators accountable. They further resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the root causes of poor service delivery and recommend appropriate legislative measures.
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