Nigeria’s House of Representatives has criticised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over what lawmakers described as persistent poor quality of telecommunications services across the country.
The lawmakers blamed the situation on weak regulatory oversight, accusing the commission of failing to enforce standards that would compel service providers to deliver reliable network services.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ahmadu Jaha, a member representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency, who highlighted the growing concerns of Nigerians over declining service quality.
Speaking during the session, Jaha stressed the importance of telecommunications in daily life, noting that despite its critical role in business, education, and communication, service delivery remains unsatisfactory. He pointed to recurring issues such as dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and failed message delivery as evidence of systemic inefficiencies.
“The House is concerned that poor network connectivity is a major issue. Subscribers frequently experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and difficulty sending messages,” he said, adding that the situation has led to frustration and financial losses for users.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over the disparity between the high cost of telecom services and the quality received, noting that consumers often pay significant amounts for data and calls that are disrupted by unstable connections.
Supporting the motion, Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi accused telecom operators of prioritising profit over service improvement, while also faulting the NCC for what he described as regulatory complacency.
“It is like these companies have made enough profits… they don’t care about improving the network anymore. The NCC… has become complacent,” he said.
The House further warned that poor telecom services could pose serious risks, especially during emergencies, where communication failures may affect response efforts.
As part of its resolution, lawmakers called on telecom operators to invest in infrastructure, improve customer service systems, and expand coverage, particularly in underserved areas. They also urged the NCC to enforce stricter quality standards and hold service providers accountable.
An ad hoc committee is expected to be set up to investigate the root causes of the challenges and recommend further legislative action.