House of Representatives
The House of Representatives has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of telecommunications companies operating in the Nigeria to appear before it and account for their companies’ poor services.
The House Ad hoc Committee investigating the consistent poor quality of service and poor experience in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector, issued the ultimatum at a public hearing on Wednesday in Abuja.
The resolution followed the adoption of two motions by Rep. Sunday Umeha (APC-Enugu) and Rep. Afam Ogene (NDC-Anambra) sequel to the failure of CEOs of MTN, MAFAB Communications Ltd. and other service providers to honour invitations and appear before the committee.
The committee in its resolution, urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure all the CEOs appeared before the committee on Oct. 28 at the National Assembly Complex.
The committee resolved that the CEO of MTN, Glo, Airtel, Mafab and other services should account for the consistent drop in the quality of services to Nigerians and submit all relevant documents to the committee on or before Oct. 28.
The lawmakers threatened to issue summons for the arrest of any CEO that failed to appear for them.
The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC-Ogun), said that many critical sectors like the POS operations also depended on telecommunication networks.
He said that the services of the telecommunications had consistently declined in the recent times which necessitated the house to inaugurate the committee for a proper investigation.
The lawmaker, however, alleged that invited CEOs had continued to invade the parliamentary interface with series of excuses and by sending lower ranking staffers to represent them.
Rep. Ibe Osonwa ( LP- Arochukwu/Ohafia) said that the network providers make a lot of money in the country but do not dim it fit to appear before the people’s parliament to account for their activities.
He said it was of bad taste for entities operating in the country to disregard parliamentary invitation seeking explanations for citizens they profit so much from.
In his ruling, the chairman, urged NCC to ensure compliance by the services providers to the resolution of the committee. (NAN)
