”Those were very valuable persons for the Polish history. Therefore, I think it is our duty to commemorate them” - Marek Chodkiewicz, Director General of NIK explains the gesture of the NIK management. At the same time, President Jacek Jezierski suggests we should follow such examples. ”NIK has an important role to play in our country. But it may play it only if it relies on people of unimpeachable character, such as e.g. the first President of NIK, Józef Higersberger.
Reportage from the celebration of the 94th anniversary of the establishment of NIK
94th anniversary of NIK
Why do the NIK management and employees gather every year at the monuments of Piłsudski, Paderewski and at the grave of Higersberger? Marek Bieńkowski, Director of the Public Order and Internal Security Department gives the following explanation: ”The worst thing that may happen to an institution which safeguards public funds is when its employees do not know its mission and goals. That is why, we want to make sure none of us feels like a lost traveller at the Central Railway Station not knowing where they’ve come from or where they’re going.”
On 7 February 1919, Head of State Józef Piłsudski liquidated the Accounts Office, operating at the Provisional Council of State. The resurgent Poland needed an entirely Polish and independent institution to safeguard the public money. On the very same day the decree issued at the request of the Council of Ministers was signed and thus the Supreme Office of State Audit was established. The document was countersigned by President of Ministers Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Minister of Treasury Józef Englich. The first President of the Supreme Office of State Audit was Józef Higersberger.
![94th anniversary of the establishment of NIK [reportage]](/plik/big/id,4571.jpg "94. rocznica NIK")