Not praying in masjid when imam is a government paid employee?

I noticed that my relatives (living in Dubai) do not pray at the masjid, even when it is only at a 2-minute walk from their home. They offer all their prayers at home, including the Jumma salah. Their reason is that the imam is a paid employee of the government. They mentioned that some fatwas state that "Getting paid on offering prayer and other things like teaching the Quran is haram". My relatives told me that Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Abu Bakar (RA) or any other companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not accept wages to lead prayers. I asked them that if they go to Hajj, they will not offer prayers behind the Kaaba Imam since he is getting paid by the government. They replied that yes they will not. So my question is that, are these people doing the right thing by not praying behind a government paid imam?