Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has called out Apostle Femi Lazarus for charging fees for his school of ministry while criticizing a gospel singer’s financial demands for a performance.
The controversy began after Apostle Lazarus, during a Sunday sermon, projected an alleged invoice from an unnamed gospel artist, highlighting the extensive requirements for a performance.
Lazarus said, “I want the media to project an invoice for a music minister in Nigeria. It says that the minister would be accompanied by a minimum of forty persons. They will all return the day after the event. Four male members. Flight will be booked for both the outbound and return journeys. The artist will fly First class. (Compulsory). Team will fly economy.”
The invoice also stipulated that the hosting church would cover accommodations, including executive hotel rooms and meals for the entourage. Additionally, it listed an honorarium of $10,000, a non-refundable 50% upfront payment, and the balance to be paid two days before the event.
“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,” Lazarus said.
Addressing the argument that gospel artists like Nathaniel Bassey do not charge because their worth is already recognized, Lazarus stated, “There is honour that growth brings, there’s honour that God puts on you. You can’t demand such without growing.
“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 on Monday to challenge Lazarus’ claims, demanding that he reveal the name of the gospel artist in question.
“Nobody has a 40-man crew in Nigeria. Name the artist. In order to justify capping,” he wrote in a now-deleted post.
The singer also shared screenshots from Lazarus’ International School of Ministry, which reportedly charges students $150 per person.
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Dakolo questioned the pastor’s consistency, stating, “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.”
“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 challenged Lazarus’ views on gospel musicians charging for performances. Earlier in March, he defended gospel artists’ rights to fair compensation, stating, “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.”
