103rd anniversary of NIK

07 February 2022 16:37

In November 1918, Poland regained independence. This is when the process of forming state institutions, including audit bodies, began. Three months later, on 7 February 1919, upon request of the Council of Ministers, Head of State Józef Piłsudski signed a decree on the Supreme Chamber of Control of the Republic of Poland. The document was countersigned by President of the Council of Ministers Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Minister of Treasury Józef Englich. NIK was one of the first institutions in revived Poland.

Head of State Józef Piłsudski and Prime Minister Ignacy Jan Paderewski at the inauguration of the Legislative Sejm, 1919 r. Photo: NAC

of the Legislative Sejm in 1919. Photo: NAC

The Council of Ministers resolved that the existing Accounts Office, being part of the Ministry of Treasury, should be replaced by a completely independent audit institution. Therefore, it became urgent to establish an audit body, entirely independent from central administration authorities, equivalent to them, vested with extensive rights to scrutinise the state economy. The Council of Ministers decided that the best solution would be to found – by a decree – an institution having collegial and administrative powers, subordinate to the supreme authority, i.e. the Head of State. This is how the Supreme Chamber of Control of the Republic of Poland came into being 103 years ago.

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Udostępniający:

Najwyższa Izba Kontroli

Date of creation:

07 February 2022 16:37

Date of publication:

07 February 2022 16:37

Published by:

Marta Połczyńska

Date of last change:

08 February 2022 09:46

Last modified by:

Marta Połczyńska

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