NIK Council’s position on media reports saying that NIK’s activity is politics-driven

The NIK Council is composed of: the President of NIK as Chairperson, Vice-Presidents, Director General and 14 members, such as scholars of law or economics. All of them have underlined that they are independent in performing their functions and may have dissenting opinions. They have also reasserted that resolutions are passed by a secret ballot and that pursuant to the Polish Constitution, NIK is the chief authority of the state audit.

On behalf of the NIK Council, its position has been signed by the President of NIK and the Secretary of the NIK Council.

The full text of the NIK Council’s position is found below:                     

The year 2019  is the 101st year of the state audit in Poland. The Supreme Audit Office acts in line with clear principles: transparency of intentions, reliability of information, apoliticality of auditors and collegiality in taking key decisions. NIK, therefore, complies with the world’s standards.

NIK deals with the areas of the state where public money or public property is involved. It verifies if public authorities perform their tasks in an effective, efficient and economic manner. A special audit is the annual audit of the state budget execution. Apart from that NIK conducts annual audits in over 200 areas. The planned audits are part of the NIK work plan. The issues addressed are an outcome of NIK’s own proposals as well as suggestions made by the President, Marshalls of the Sejm and the Senate, the Prime Minister and other public authorities. The NIK Council plays a vital role in audit planning as it approves of the audit priorities. Considering the media reports that attempt to position NIK as an object or a tool of political fight we would like to reaffirm that the Council of the Supreme Audit Office executes the NIK principle of collegiality set forth in the Polish Constitution and statutory provisions.

The NIK Council adopts annual work plans of NIK, the drafts of its Charter and the budget. Every year the Council approves of the documents that NIK is obliged to submit with the Sejm by virtue of law. The NIK Council is composed of: the President of NIK as Chairperson, Vice-Presidents, Director General and 14 members, such as scholars of law or economics. It should be emphasised that pursuant to Articles 202 and 203 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, NIK is the chief authority of the state audit, is subject to the Sejm and operates based on the collegiality principles. Besides, under Article 22 Section 3 and Article 24 Section 2 of the Act on NIK, the NIK Council passes resolutions by a secret ballot and the Council members are independent in performing their functions and may have dissenting opinions on resolutions that are voted upon.

Article informations

Date of creation:
09 March 2020 13:52
Date of publication:
09 March 2020 13:52
Published by:
Marta Połczyńska
Date of last change:
30 March 2020 12:49
Last modified by:
Andrzej Gaładyk
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