A lawyer, Sesan Bankole, has said the National Assembly lacks the power to regulate telecommunications operators or impose fines on them, arguing that such responsibilities fall under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Bankole made the statement following the House of Representatives’ decision to summon telecommunications company executives over persistent poor network services across the country. The lawmakers summoned the chief executives of telecommunications companies to appear before an ad hoc committee on October 28, 2026, to explain recurring service failures affecting subscribers. The committee also threatened possible arrest for failure to honour the invitation.
Bankole argued that Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution limits the National Assembly’s investigative powers to matters relating to lawmaking and the investigation of the management of public funds appropriated by the legislature. He maintained that although lawmakers could invite telecommunications operators in the public interest, they could not assume the regulatory responsibilities assigned to the NCC.
The lawyer also cited the case of Tony Momoh v. Senate (1982), arguing that the National Assembly’s investigative powers must remain within the limits established by the Constitution.Bankole further argued that the chief executives did not necessarily have to attend the hearing personally, saying the companies could appoint representatives to appear on their behalf under the relevant provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
Another lawyer, Ilemona Onoja, reportedly raised concerns about a lawsuit filed in 2018 by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). The association challenged repeated legislative summonses of telecommunications executives over matters it considered to fall within the NCC’s regulatory jurisdiction.Onoja argued that the latest summons raised a sub judice concern because the dispute remained before the courts. However, the implications of the pending case depend on the issues before the court and the status of the proceedings.
The development comes amid persistent complaints from Nigerians about dropped calls, slow internet speeds and unreliable network coverage, which continue to affect businesses and everyday communication. The NCC regulates the telecommunications industry under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and is responsible for enforcing applicable quality-of-service requirements. Bankole stressed that the National Assembly’s primary responsibility was to make laws that provide an enabling environment for the telecommunications industry to operate, rather than take over the functions of its established regulator.
The issue centres on whether the National Assembly has the constitutional authority to intervene in the regulation of telecommunications operators. While lawmakers want telecom executives to explain the persistent poor network services in Nigeria, the lawyer argues that regulating these companies falls primarily under the responsibility of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
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