Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has criticized Apostle Femi Lazarus for charging fees for his ministry school while simultaneously condemning gospel singers who request payment for their performances.
This controversy began when Apostle Lazarus, during a Sunday sermon, displayed an alleged invoice from an unnamed gospel artist. The document outlined demands including a 40-person entourage, first-class flight for the artist, economy flights for the team, executive hotel accommodations, three meals daily, and an honorarium of $10,000. It also mandated a 50% non-refundable deposit and full payment two days before the event.
Lazarus commented on this, saying, “When they pay you this kind of money you have to act drama to justify the amount paid. You will roll on the floor, scream but those who know God, know he’s not there. Many charlatans like this don’t bill big pastors because they use them for endorsement.”
He also contrasted this with artists like Nathaniel Bassey, arguing that true honor comes from God, “Nathaniel Bassey already knows what he’s worth because he did not demand for it. God put that honour. If you grow, God puts that honour. Demanding is you trying to attain what God confers on men with your own mouth.”
In response, Dakolo took to Instagram to question the validity of the pastor’s claims, calling for him to name the artist, “Nobody has a 40-man crew in Nigeria. Name the artist. In order to justify capping.”
He further accused Apostle Lazarus of hypocrisy, revealing that his International School of Ministry charges students $150 per person. Dakolo shared screenshots of the school’s emails and challenged the pastor’s stance:
“By your definition, if anyone charges to minister, they are not gospel artists but performers. And by that definition, if any preacher charges to teach and minister, they are merchants of hope and motivational speakers too.”
He continued, “Sir, you are charging as low as 150 dollars per person for your school of ministry. Teaching and preaching Jesus. Probably having as much as 1000 students. Let’s do the maths. You even have premium and standard for God’s house?
Are you not selling the Gift and revelation freely given to you? Again, let’s not keep shifting the goal post.”
This is not the first time Dakolo has criticized Lazarus. Earlier this month, he defended gospel artists’ right to be compensated:
“This gaslighting has to stop, Gospel ministers want good things too, they are not beggars. The best architects are called upon to build big churches, large sums of money disbursed for promoting big programs and all. No one should diminish another person’s ministry. Ministry needs music and music needs ministry.”
The debate has sparked discussions within Nigeria’s Christian community over whether financial compensation in ministry is justified.
