Senate summons NCC and telecom operators over dropped calls and airtime deductions

The Senate has summoned the NCC and telecommunications operators, including MTN, Airtel, Globacom and T2, over persistent dropped calls, failed connections and unexplained airtime deductions suffered by subscribers. The NCC and telecommunication operators are expected to appear before the Zamfara Central-led Senate Committee on Communications, headed by Senator Aliyu Ikra Bilbis.

The Committee received a mandate to invite the NCC and telecommunications operators to investigate complaints of airtime deductions for failed calls, dropped calls, prematurely terminated conversations and inflated charges. According to the Senate, the committee is expected to establish the financial losses suffered by subscribers and report back to the Senate within four weeks, with recommendations for further legislative and regulatory action. Wednesday's Senate resolution followed a motion titled "Need to curb unjustified deductions from subscribers’ airtime resulting from substandard telecommunications services through robust consumer protection."

Motion Details and Lawmaker Reactions

The motion was sponsored by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North. The Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru, APC, Kwara South, presented the motion on behalf of Monguno, expressing concerns over consumers being charged for calls that were never successfully completed. Senator Ned Nwoko, APC, Delta North, seconded the motion and described the proposal as a straightforward consumer-protection intervention.

Lawmakers warned that Nigerians should not be made to pay for telecommunications services that have not been effectively delivered. Subscribers are frequently compelled to redial numbers several times before establishing a connection, resulting in additional airtime deductions and financial losses, particularly for low-income earners, traders, students and small business owners. The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, stated that the investigation must go beyond routine engagements and insisted that the NCC, the supervising minister and telecommunications operators must provide explanations for the persistent complaints. Akpabio warned that if the explanations and proposed interventions fail to address the concerns, the Senate could escalate the matter to a Committee of the Whole for further legislative action.