Major telecommunications operators in Nigeria have sued the House of Representatives over its investigation into poor network services across the country.

The operators, including MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile, filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 4, seeking to stop the lawmakers from interfering in the regulatory responsibilities of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

The telecommunications companies are challenging summonses issued by the House ad hoc committee on quality of service, directing their chief executives to appear before it and submit relevant documents.

They argued that the regulation and monitoring of telecommunications service quality are the statutory responsibilities of the NCC, not the National Assembly.

They also maintained that the lawmakers’ investigation could interfere with the commission’s regulatory powers and two pending court cases.

The operators are asking the court to nullify the summonses and stop the House from using arrest warrants or other measures to compel their chief executives to appear.

The development follows an earlier directive by the House of Representatives giving telecommunications operators seven days to explain the persistent poor network services in the country, warning that their chief executives could face arrest if they failed to comply.