Renowned Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo and Apostle Lazarus have now settled their differences after a public exchange over the controversial issue of gospel singers charging honorariums for ministrations.
This development comes after the clergyman shared a post indicating that both parties had reached an understanding.
The disagreement initially stemmed from a sermon by Apostle Lazarus, where he presented what was alleged to be an invoice from a gospel artist requesting a $10,000 honorarium, including a compulsory 50% non-refundable deposit.
The revelation sparked reactions, with Dakolo questioning the authenticity of the document and urging Nigerians to be discerning.
“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 stated in reaction to the claims.
Taking his concerns further, the singer criticized the preacher’s stance on the matter, pointing out that the cleric himself charges fees for his school of ministry.
He shared screenshots of emails he had received when he applied for the training, which reportedly cost $150 per student.
In his post, Dakolo argued, “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.”
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However, the tension appears to have eased following a fresh update from Apostle Lazarus. In a recent Instagram post, he shared a picture of himself alongside Dakolo and fellow cleric Apostle Iren, suggesting that an amicable resolution had been reached.
He wrote, “My brother @timidakolo is a music legend. Give him his flowers. What a man! He genuinely carries the burdens of musicians. His concerns are real. I love you. Better structures will be built. Pain is real. From pulpit to the pew, the pain is real, but we will be fine.
“This generation will not have a carryover of pain. Hosts will do better. Guests will do better. We will have a better nation together. I don’t know how to edit my brother @pst_iren out of the picture.”
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This marks the first time Apostle Lazarus directly addresses Dakolo on the subject of gospel artists receiving payment for ministrations, a topic that has sparked debates within the Christian community.
The latest development suggests a step toward better understanding and structure within the gospel music and ministry space.