Telecom Operators Challenge House of Reps Over Service Probe

On November 4, 2026, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), along with MTN Nigeria, Airtel Networks, Globacom, and T2 Mobile, filed a lawsuit in Abuja against the House of Representatives. The operators are contesting the lawmakers' authority to investigate poor network services and compel their executives to appear before a parliamentary committee.

This legal action arises amid numerous complaints from Nigerians about dropped calls, unstable internet, and network disruptions. The operators are seeking judicial interpretation of Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which pertain to legislative investigations and the summoning of witnesses.

They argue that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) holds exclusive regulatory authority over telecommunications standards, and that the House's investigations should not interfere with this. The dispute intensified after the House Ad Hoc Committee on Telecommunications Quality of Service issued summonses for telecom executives following their absence from a hearing on October 28.

The lawsuit follows a similar legal dispute initiated by ALTON in 2018.