Timi Dakolo Accuses Apostle Femi Lazarus of Hypocrisy Over Gospel Music Fees

Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has once again criticized Apostle Femi Lazarus, accusing him of hypocrisy over his stance on gospel musicians charging fees for performances. The controversy started when Apostle Lazarus shared a sermon in which he displayed an alleged invoice from a gospel singer, detailing a $10,000 honorarium, a mandatory 50% non-refundable deposit, first-class flight tickets, and accommodations. He argued that such demands were excessive for ministry work.

Reacting to this, Dakolo dismissed the claims, stating that Nigerians should be cautious about misinformation. He questioned the authenticity of the invoice and challenged the notion that gospel artists should not be compensated for their work. Taking to Instagram, he sarcastically asked for proof, saying, “Nobody has a 40-man crew in Nigeria. Name the artist to justify capping .”

In a fresh post on March 24, 2025, Dakolo further called out Apostle Lazarus, questioning why the pastor himself charges fees for his school of ministry. The singer shared screenshots of emails he received when he applied to the pastor’s school, revealing that students were charged $150 per person for enrollment. Dakolo argued that if gospel musicians should not be charged for their performances, then ministers should not be charged for teaching the gospel either.

He wrote, “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.”

The singer also pointed out the financial implications of music production, noting that creating and promoting gospel music requires significant investment. “Such hypocrisy. The school of ministry has expenses, but 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.”

Dakolo’s post has sparked heated debates online, with some supporting his stance while others argue that gospel ministry should not be commercialized. As the conversation continues, many are questioning the financial expectations of both ministers and gospel artists in spreading the message of faith.