Popular actor Akah Nnani has ignited fierce debate after demanding that lawmakers make it compulsory for politicians’ children to attend school in Nigeria, insisting real change in the education sector will only happen when leaders’ own kids feel the pain of the failing system.
Speaking on The Morayo Show, the actor addressed the “Olodo uprising” and broader issues of accountability in governance. Urging Nigerians to hold leaders responsible, he said:
“I think everybody already knows the problem. Do we want it to continue? No.”
Nnani’s most striking proposal came when he called for legislation targeting politicians’ families:
“Lawmakers need to make it mandatory that the children of politicians do school here.”
He argued that politicians do not truly care about public institutions because their children are shielded abroad.
“We think that these politicians care about us. They don’t. And they’re not going to make it better until it begins to pinch them. Their children can’t be going abroad, and then our public schools are going, you know, bad,” Nnani explained.
The actor urged citizens to engage their representatives directly:
“So I think that’s the first step. Make sure that you hold your political leaders, hold your legislative arm accountable. Let your senators, your House of Reps, tell them what you want.”
His comments have sparked strong reactions online, with many agreeing that shared consequences would force better governance, while sceptics doubt lawmakers would ever pass a bill that inconveniences their own families.
The call comes amid ongoing complaints about dilapidated public schools, frequent strikes, and poor learning outcomes across Nigeria, even as children of the elite study in top foreign institutions.
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