Music  

Pastor Femi Lazarus, Timi Dakolo settle differences

By Musa Adekunle

25 March 2025   |   10:53 am

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The senior pastor of Light Nation Church, Femi Lazarus, and award-winning singer, Timi Dakolo, have finally ended their public disagreement over payment for gospel ministration. Their reconciliation came on Monday evening, days after both men clashed online over comments Pastor Lazarus made about gospel artistes demanding high fees to perform in churches. The back-and-forth started…

The senior pastor of Light Nation Church, Femi Lazarus, and award-winning singer, Timi Dakolo, have finally ended their public disagreement over payment for gospel ministration.

Their reconciliation came on Monday evening, days after both men clashed online over comments Pastor Lazarus made about gospel artistes demanding high fees to perform in churches.

The back-and-forth started when Pastor Lazarus, in a sermon, criticised an unnamed gospel singer for allegedly charging $10,000, requesting first-class flight and hotel accommodation for a church event. Timi Dakolo, who is not a gospel artiste but a Christian known for faith-inspired songs, responded sharply.

READ ALSO: Fans react as Timi Dakolo calls out Apostle Lazarus over $150 ministry fee

“I am not a gospel artiste but a Christian raised in church… Let’s not shift the goal post,” Dakolo wrote on Instagram.

“By your definition, if anyone charges to minister, they are not gospel artistes. They’re performers. And if preachers charge to teach, they too are merchants of hope.”

The matter quickly gained public attention, with many Nigerians debating whether gospel music should be paid for, especially when churches pay heavily for other services.

Pastor Lazarus, 37, who runs a growing church in Abuja, initially defended his position, saying that his School of Ministry is a formal educational platform and not just a pulpit gathering.

But the tone changed on Monday night.

Posting a photo of himself with Dakolo and Pastor Emmanuel Iren, Lazarus confirmed they had talked things out.

“My brother Timi Dakolo is a music legend, give him his flowers. What a man! He genuinely carries the burdens of musicians,” he wrote.
“His concerns are real. I love you. Better structures will be built… We will have a better nation together.”

This truce marks a rare moment of unity between the pulpit and the stage, as both men agreed that church systems must evolve to better support creatives, especially those who serve through music.

Dakolo, 43, has continued to advocate for fairness in gospel music, insisting that ministers deserve respect and decent compensation, just like pastors, event planners and technical teams.