Ministry of Digital Transformation: Audit uncovers decade‑old inherited problems

The Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDT) says the State Audit Office's findings for the ministry's 2024 primary budget reflect problems inherited from the former Ministry for Information Society that accumulated over many years — in some cases more than a decade.

Auditors flagged a range of weaknesses, including purchases made without a tender, vacant positions, uninsured buildings, incomplete inventories and unclear asset records. The MDT responded in writing that it encountered incomplete registries, unresolved property‑legal issues, court cases and administrative omissions when the institution was established in 2024.

MDT outlines corrective steps

The ministry states that a full and substantive inventory of assets had not been performed for the past 10 years, producing significant discrepancies between physical status, accounting records and available documentation.

“The listed properties with a book value of one denar are precisely an example of such inherited and disorderly records, and not an indicator of their real market value,” the ministry said.

MDT says it has already begun steps to clarify property status, harmonize records, obtain required documentation and bring order to the management of state property. Some audit remarks have already been addressed, while concrete corrective measures are being implemented for others.

On legal cases, the ministry acknowledged inheriting several court proceedings that stem from decisions and obligations created in previous years. “These cases are considered individually, in cooperation with the competent institutions, with the aim of their lawful resolution and minimizing the financial consequences on the state budget. These are legal and financial obligations that do not disappear with a change of leadership, but must be handled responsibly,” the statement added.

Regarding findings on public procurement, financial records and internal controls, MDT told auditors that some payments related to procurements carried out for other institutions — where MDT acted as a user — including cleaning and securing buildings, official travel and telephony. The ministry also noted staffing shortages, especially given pay differences between the public sector and the private IT sector, and said strengthening administrative and professional capacities remains a priority. “We are aware of the challenges posed by staffing shortages, which are further complicated by the pay gap between the state and private IT sector. Strengthening administrative and expert capacities remains one of the Ministry's priorities,” the ministry said.

The State Audit Office report noted incomplete data in the real estate and fixed assets registers, insufficient documentation for public procurements, delays in invoice recording and weaknesses in internal control. Because of these shortcomings, auditors said they could not obtain sufficient evidence to express an opinion on the ministry's financial statements, and they expressed a qualified opinion on legality.

Photo: press material from the event