Timi Dakolo Slams Apostle Femi Lazarus Over Alleged Hypocrisy in Gospel Music Debate

Controversy Erupts Over Gospel Music Charges and Ministry Fees

Timi Dakolo has taken a strong stance against Apostle Femi Lazarus, accusing him of hypocrisy following the pastor’s recent comments on financial demands made by gospel singers. The debate erupted after Apostle Lazarus presented an alleged invoice from a gospel artist during a sermon, sparking widespread discussions on social media.

The invoice in question reportedly contained demands such as a $10,000 honorarium, a first-class ticket, lodging, and a 50% non-refundable deposit. Apostle Lazarus argued that such financial requests were excessive for a ministry setting. His remarks were interpreted as a critique of gospel singers who charge significant amounts for their performances, raising questions about whether gospel music should be treated as a business or a purely spiritual service.

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Timi Dakolo Denies Invoice Claims, Calls for Transparency

In response, Timi Dakolo dismissed the legitimacy of the invoice, urging Nigerians to be cautious about accepting such claims without verification. He expressed skepticism about the figures presented by Apostle Lazarus, particularly the claim that gospel artists in Nigeria operate with a 40-man crew.

“Nigerians, you should not believe everything you see. Nobody has a 40-man crew in Nigeria. Name the artist in order to justify capping 😂,” Dakolo posted on Instagram, challenging the authenticity of the claims.

However, Dakolo did not stop at refuting the invoice. He went on to question Apostle Lazarus’ own financial practices, pointing out that the pastor charges fees for his school of ministry, which teaches Christian doctrines and leadership.

Dakolo Accuses Apostle Lazarus of Double Standards

To support his argument, Dakolo shared screenshots of emails he received after applying for Apostle Lazarus’ school of ministry. The emails showed that students were required to pay $150 per person for enrollment. This, Dakolo argued, contradicted the pastor’s stance on gospel artists charging for their performances.

“All this was said in love and with respect, sir. I am not a gospel artist but a Christian raised in church. Let’s not shift the goalpost. By your definition, if anyone charges to minister, they are not gospel artists; they are performers. And by that definition, if any preacher charges to teach and minister, they are merchants of hope and motivational speakers too,” Dakolo wrote.

He further elaborated, questioning the logic behind categorizing gospel singers’ financial demands as excessive while justifying fees for religious teachings.

“Sir, you are charging as low as $150 per person for your school of ministry, teaching and preaching Jesus. Probably having as much as 1,000 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 goalpost.”

Dakolo also highlighted the high costs involved in music production, promotion, and marketing, arguing that gospel artists have legitimate expenses that justify their fees.

“Such hypocrisy. The school of ministry has expenses, and music creation doesn’t? Running costs are important, but production and promotion costs are unimportant? Most of you don’t know how much a producer charges, then the marketing, the promotion, the amount of hours it takes to finish a song. Keep shifting the goalpost, guys.”

Public Reactions: Divided Opinions on the Controversy

Dakolo’s criticism sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting his stance while others defended Apostle Lazarus. Many social media users engaged in heated debates over the legitimacy of charging fees for gospel music performances versus ministry teachings.

One critic challenged Dakolo’s argument, stating:
“You don’t have a valid point here, bro. I get that you’re trying to regain your relevance, but let me remind you that this is a school, and he also encourages music artists to start their academies if they wish. If you want to prove a point, then show a receipt of what the Apostle charges for his ministrations.”

Another commenter emphasized the distinction between gospel music and ministry education:
“You still don’t get it! When music ministers sell tapes, do we complain? Have they opened a school of music and we complained about it??? You people are still the ones who believe that Covenant University should be free because it belongs to a church! You just go about issues emotionally instead of settling down to be rational!”

Others, however, sided with Dakolo, arguing that the pastor was guilty of the same commercialization he criticized:
“I see some comments and I feel like a lot of you are being selective 😂😂. Did the apostles pay to be trained by Jesus? Even Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, didn’t pay after all he did to Christians. The pastor is as guilty as everything he criticized, and that’s the whole point. Make everybody rest.”

A more neutral perspective acknowledged the importance of financial sustainability in religious and musical services but emphasized that the issue was about excessive fees:
“Knowledge is not free! That is a school. Music is for edification. He was not condemning paying music ministers, but exorbitant and frivolous charges are the issue here.”

The Bigger Debate: Should Gospel Music Be Free?

The controversy between Dakolo and Apostle Lazarus highlights a broader debate within religious and gospel music circles—should gospel artists charge for their services, and if so, how much is reasonable? While some argue that ministry and gospel music should be freely offered, others insist that financial sustainability is essential for both artists and preachers.

The argument also raises questions about transparency in financial dealings within religious organizations. If gospel artists are expected to offer their services at little to no cost, should preachers and ministries also adopt the same standard?

As the debate continues, it remains clear that there is no single answer. However, the discussion has opened up an important conversation about the intersection of faith, commerce, and the expectations placed on those who serve in religious and artistic capacities.