The Shadow Minister for Family and Social Services of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Aylin Nazlıaka, commented on the 2023 Court of Accounts audit report. Nazlıaka stated that the report revealed the Ministry of Family and Social Services’ lack of financial transparency, accountability, and openness.
**Erroneous Accounting Practices**
Nazlıaka pointed out that the ministry incorrectly accounted for unpaid amounts related to monthly payments to citizens over 65 and birth allowances. She also highlighted that the legally required VAT withholding during service procurement was not carried out, resulting in public financial loss. Furthermore, she mentioned that provisions for severance pay for ministry employees were not allocated.
**Auditor’s Report Under Pressure**
Nazlıaka claimed that the Court of Accounts’ report had a “watered-down” content due to its role in auditing public administrations’ financial activities. She noted that the report consisted of only 68 pages, which she considered inadequate given the ministry’s wide scope of operations. She also drew attention to the pressures faced by the Court of Accounts in preparing the report.
**Serious Administrative Issues in the Ministry**
Nazlıaka further addressed other findings in the report, stating that administrative fines were not recorded and errors were made in accounting for rented properties. She mentioned that incorrect recording of unpaid amounts for the disabled and elderly led to public financial loss.
**Public Revenue Loss and Unfair Gains**
Nazlıaka revealed that due to erroneous accounting of donations, public revenue loss amounted to 89 million TL. She accused the ministry of providing unfair gains to loyalists and violating regulations in some transactions. Specifically, she claimed irregularities in price difference payments led to transferring public resources to loyalists.
**Shortcomings in Social Aid Projects**
Lastly, Nazlıaka criticized the inadequacies in projects conducted through Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations. She underlined that receivables were not tracked in the accounting system, causing public financial loss. She also mentioned that obligations concerning the employment of social aid recipients were not fulfilled, resulting in many individuals not being employed.
These statements from Aylin Nazlıaka clearly outline her criticisms of the ministry and the Court of Accounts report, highlighting the extent of administrative and financial problems within the Ministry of Family and Social Services.