In each audit NIK promotes anti-corruption practices. They include: transparency of public procurement procedures, limiting discretion of public officials’ conduct, ”more eyes” principle, rotation on decision-making posts, eliminating conflicts of interests and strengthening internal control.
Anti-corruption initiatives of the Supreme Audit Office
Anti-corruption initiatives
De lege ferenda proposals make it possible for NIK to suggest changes that need to be made in the law. Most of effective anti-corruption regulations would not have been implemented without the Supreme Audit Office being involved. A specific example of NIK’s actions to curb corruption are changes in the criminal code related to putting an end to the so-called conspiracy of silence between an entity offering a bribe and a person accepting it.
NIK contributed to passing the Public Procurement Act including the contract transparency principle. The Public Sector Salary Cap Act, limiting excessive salaries in public companies was also implemented thanks to NIK. Transparency of financial disclosure statements rule was adopted as well as the ban on sponsoring the police by private entities.
NIK audits also brought significant changes for average citizens, as e.g. traffic fine calculator or a ban on cash fines. Also thanks to the intervention of the Supreme Audit Office there is an opportunity to take a driving licence exam in the presence of a third party and every exam attempt is recorded.
NIK’s efforts in the fight against corruption combined with transparency of functioning and independence of audit have been appreciated by Transparency International. In the last year’s report Anticorruption mechanisms in Poland NIK scored 88 in 100 points. This is the best result of all Polish public institutions.
