The auditors’ activities are aimed at thoroughly examining all the facts and potential irregularities that may have occurred within the ministry, the office announced on the X platform.
It said "the purpose of the audit measures is to scrutinize all the facts, circumstances and potential irregularities that, in accordance with both media reports and letters submitted to NIK, could have occurred within this department."
The watchdog added that it would "make every effort to ensure that the public is informed about the details of the issue."
"All findings will be formulated in full accordance with the current procedures and the constitutional and statutory powers of NIK," the statement further said.
On Tuesday, the European Parliament held a debate on allegations that Polish consulates overseas issued work visas to migrants in exchange for bribes.
Speaking on behalf of the parliament’s largest grouping, the European People’s Party (EPP), Dutch lawmaker Jeroen Lenaer said that the Polish government had “failed spectacularly” to protect the Schengen zone’s outer borders by issuing visas to people who were not entitled to receive them, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Poland's security service has said that seven individuals have been detained in connection to the alleged scandal.
The liberal Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, which is critical of the government, claimed in mid-September that Poland's consular services might have allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to come to Europe.
A system was allegedly established for granting Schengen visas to individuals from the Middle East and Africa in exchange for financial considerations, involving both Polish consulates and certain external companies in the countries concerned.
The allegations come as an awkward blow for a government that has made controlling migration central to its campaign for Poland's October 15 general election, news outlets reported.
(mo/gs)
Source: PAP