From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
In a move aimed at protecting telecom consumers in Enugu State, the House of Assembly has resolved to summon major telecommunications providers, including MTN, Globacom, Airtel and 9Mobile, to address mounting complaints over frequent call drops, poor service delivery and financial losses suffered by subscribers.
The resolution followed a motion presented at yesterday’s plenary by Harrison Ogara, representing Igbo-Eze South Constituency, who decried the arbitrary fleecing of telecom users in the state and across Nigeria.
“The current epileptic services of telecom providers in Enugu State have led to huge losses for our people. Despite Nigeria’s rapid growth in the telecom sector, consumers in Enugu continue to suffer under the weight of poor services and unreasonably high charges,” he said.
He lamented that millions of subscribers, including those in Enugu had continued to be billed at full rates for incomplete or failed calls. He argued that the situation has caused residents not only frustration but also economic harm.
The motion called for the telecom firms to appear before the Assembly to account for the extent of service disruptions and call failures in Enugu; detailed subscriber data specific to the state; records of tax compliance with the state government and justification for continued billing despite service lapses.
He further proposed that a joint committee be established to probe the operations of these providers. The committee would include the Accountant General, Auditor General, Attorney General, and the House Committee on Information, Communication and Innovation. Its tasks include to investigate the financial impact of call drops and recommend appropriate redress for affected users.
The motion drew widespread support from fellow lawmakers.
Malachy Onyechi (Nsukka West) likened the telecom providers to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), accusing them of delivering inadequate services while issuing exorbitant bills.
Clifford One (Igbo-Eze North II) compared the operators to commercial banks that deduct funds for failed transactions, reiterating the need for accountability and customer protection.
In a related development, the Assembly also passed the Enugu State Land Use Charge (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Iloabuchi Aniagu (Nkanu West Constituency). To expedite the process, the House suspended Order 14, Rule 102(1) of its Standing Orders, allowing for swift passage of the bill.
The Enugu State House of Assembly’s move marks a growing trend among state legislatures to assert local authority over consumer protection in the face of nationwide service delivery challenges in the telecom sector.
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