The Ministry of National Defense spends billions badly on reinforcements? The NIK report is, but not yet published

Leading politicians outdo each other in declarations of increasing the expenditure on the army, but the Ministry of National Defense has problems with their implementation. Last year, he got a negative rating from the Supreme Audit Office, this time it is better – we read in the Wednesday edition of Rzeczpospolita.

The newspaper writes about the NIK control in the implementation of the state budget in the “National Defense” part for the last year. The report – as we read – has not yet been published.

The article pointed out that “a year ago, i.e. in the results of the inspection for 2023, NIK decided for the first time to negative for the Ministry of National Defense, very rarely issued and testifying to thorough irregularities.”

“Rz” explains that one of the reasons was the Act on the defense of the homeland adopted in 2022, assuming in 2023 an increase in the share of expenditure on defense in Poland by 0.8 percent. compared to 2022.

“According to the Supreme Audit Office, the Ministry of Defense Ministry implemented inadequately, because, for example, the financial plan of the Armament Agency was not increased only in December 2023. The second main reason for the negative assessment was pointless – according to the Supreme Audit Office – the transfer of four advances as part of contracts for the purchase of, among others, Patriot battery, the F -35 multi -purpose plane and Regina fire module” – writes Rom. “

As noted in the article, the Armaments Agency explained that the payment of advances in advance was to allow the Ministry of National Defense to relieve the budget of the Ministry of National Defense in subsequent years, when military equipment is planned. However, according to the Supreme Audit Office, “overpayments were not associated with obtaining benefits for the Polish Armed Forces.”

According to the latest report, which Rz writes, in 2024 the situation with advances improved. As we read, this time the NIK issued a descriptive assessment, writing, among others: “The Supreme Audit Office notes that the Minister of National Defense has taken action to eliminate the irregularities raised in previous years regarding the Chamber of Immacles regarding the completion of unobtrusive prepayments under the Foreign Military Sales program and improper expenditure planning.” However – as the newspaper reports – the Chamber still found an irregularity in advance of reinforcement expenses.

The ministry did not answer the question of “Rzeczpospolita”. (PAP)

KKR/ MOW/