Abstract

This study investigated the effect of artificial intelligence (AI)- driven workforce management on teachers' attendance and punctuality in secondary schools in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The persistent problem of teacher absenteeism and lateness has long undermined instructional time and learning outcomes in Nigerian secondary schools, and the recent adoption of AI-enabled biometric and automated attendance systems offers a potential remedy. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the study was guided by three objectives and three research questions. A sample of 200 teachers was drawn from selected public and private secondary schools in the Uyo metropolis using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured, validated questionnaire titled the AI-Driven Workforce Management and Teacher Punctuality Questionnaire (AWMTPQ), whose reliability yielded a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.84. Data were analysed using frequency counts, simple percentages, and mean scores presented in tables and charts. The findings revealed that AI-driven workforce management significantly improved teachers' attendance, with mean monthly attendance rising from about 70% to over 90% after deployment; enhanced punctuality, with average lateness falling markedly over six months; and that erratic power supply, poor internet connectivity, and inadequate training were the leading challenges to effective implementation. The study concluded that AI-driven workforce management is an effective tool for strengthening teacher accountability, attendance, and punctuality when supported by adequate infrastructure and training. It recommended sustained investment in power and connectivity, capacity-building for teachers and administrators, and a supportive policy framework to institutionalise the technology in secondary schools